P*N(f>R(lHJlrtfUO 


CALIFORNIA 
MINERAL  PRODUCTION 

FOR  1922 


BULLETIN  No.  93 


iSSUBD  EY  mE 

CALIFORNIA  STATE  MINING  BUREAU 


FERRY  BUILDING  -  SAN  FRANCISCO 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

DAVIS 


Tf<2'l 

^?3 


CALIFORNIA  STATE  MINING  BUREAU 

FERRY  BUILDING,  SAN  FRANCISCO 
LLOYD  L.  ROOT  State  Mineralogist 

San  Francisco]  BULLETIN  No.  93  [September,  1923 


CALIFORNIA 
MINERAL  PRODUCTION 

FOR  1922 


BY 
WALTER  W.  BRADLEY 


CALIFOnXIA  STATE  rUlNTI.NG  OFFICE 

FRANK  J.  SMITH.  Superintendent 

SACRAMENTO.   1923 

28547  LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CAUFORNIA 
DAVIS 


CONTEiNTS. 


Faok 

LETTER    OF    TRANSMITTAL 7 

INTRODUCTION    9 

Chapter  I. 

SUMMARY   OF  THE   MINERAL  INDUSTRY  IN   CALIFORNIA  DURING   THE 

YEAR    OF    1922 11 

Tabulation  of  the  Mineral  Production  Showing   Comparative  Amounts 

AND   Values— 1921   and    1922 13 

Table  Showing  Comparative  Mineral  F>roduction  of  the  Various  Coun- 
ties IN  California  for  1921  and  1922 14 

Total    Production,    18S7-1922 15 

Chapter  II. 
FUELS    (HYDROCARBONS)— 

Introductory 16 

Coal     16 

Natural  Gas 17 

Petroleum   24 

METALS —  Chapter  HI. 

Introductory  41 

Aluminum    42 

Antimony 43 

Arsenic 43 

Bismuth  44 

Cadmium 44 

Cobalt     45 

Copper 45 

Gold 47 

Iridium.      (See  Platinum.) 

Iron   50 

Lead     51 

Manganese    52 

Molybdenum    54 

Nickel    55 

Osmium     55 

Palladium    55 

Platinum   55 

Quicksilver 59 

Silver    62 

Tin    63 

Tungsten    64 

Vanadium 65 

Zinc 66 

Chapter  IV. 
STRUCTURAL  MATERIALS — 

Introductory    67 

Asphalt   68 

Bituminous   Rock   68 

Brick  and   Tile 69 

Cement    72 

Chromite    75 

Granite     77 

Lime    • 79 

Magnesite    80 

Marble    85 

Onyx  and  Travertine 87 

Sandstone    87 

Serpentine 88 

Slate   89 

Stone — Miscellaneous 89 

Paving  Blocks   92 

Grinding-Mill    Pebbles   93 

Sand    and    Gravel 95 

Crushed  Rock 95,  96 


91584 


4  CONTENTS. 

Chapter  V. 
INDUSTRIAL.  MATERIALS —  Page 

Introductory 99 

Asbestos   100 

Barytes    102 

Clay — Pottery    103 

Dolomite    106 

Feldspar 107 

Fluorspar 111 

Fuller's   Earth   111 

Gems    113 

Graphite 117 

Gypsum   118 

Infusorial   and   Diatomaceous   Earths 120 

Limestone    122 

Lithia   123 

Mica 124 

Mineral    Paint    126 

Mineral   Water    126 

Phosphates   128 

Pumice   and  VoLCAKfic  Ash 129 

Pyrites    129 

Shale    Oil    130 

Silica — Sand  and  Quartz 130 

Sillimanite    132 

Soapstone  and  Talc 132 

Strontium    138 

Sulphur 139 

SALINES —  Chapter  VI. 

Introductory  140 

Borates 140 

Calcium   Chloride 142 

Magnesium    Salts    142 

Nitrates   143 

Potash    143 

Salt 146 

Soda   147 

Chapter  VII. 

MINERAL  PRODUCTION   OF  CALIFORNIA  BY  COUNTIES — 

Introductory  149 

Alameda   150 

Alpine 150 

Amador    150 

Butte    151 

Calaveras     151 

Colusa 152 

Contra   Costa   152 

Del  Norte   153 

El   Dorado    153 

Fresno 154 

Glenn    154 

Humboldt 154 

Imperial 155 

Inyo 155 

Kern    156 

Kings 157 

Lake    157 

Lassen    157 

Los   Angeles   158 

Madera    158 

Marin    159 

Mariposa     159 

Mendocino    160 

Merced    160 

Modoc 160 

Mono    161 

Monterey    161 

Napa    162 

Nevada    162 


CONTENTS.  5 

Page 
.MINERAL  PRODL'CTION  OF  CALIFORNIA  BY  COUNTIES— Continued. 

Orange    163 

Placer ~ ~~ ~_  153 

Plumas   lg4 

Rivkhside    154 

Sacramento   lg5 

San   Benito 165 

San  Bernardino 165 

San  Diego 166 

San   Francisco  167 

San  Joaquin   1G7 

San   Luis   Obispo   167 

San  Mateo 168 

Santa  Barbara 168 

Santa  Clara 169 

Santa  Cruz   169 

Shasta 169 

Sierra    170 

Siskiyou   ^_  170 

Solano    171 

Sonoma   171 

Stanislaus 172 

•Sutter 172 

Tehama 172 

Trinity    173 

Tulare    173 

Tuolumne    17-1 

Vk.mtura    174 

Yolo 174 

Yuba    175 

APPENDIX. 

ITBLICATIONS    OF   THE   STATE    MINING    BUREAU 176 

INDEX    184 


C  '  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Fagb 
Map  of  California — Approximate  Location  of  Oil  Fields 33 

Headframe   and   Timber   Yard   at   the   Empire   Mine,    Grass   "Vai.ley,    Nevada 

County    47 

Plant  No.  4  of  Los  Angeles  Pressed  Brick  Company,  at  Ai.bbrhill,  Riverside 

County    71 

Reinforced   Concrete   Bridge   Over   American    River   at  Polsom,    Sacramento 

County,    California    73 

Chart  of  Cement  Prices 74 

Marble   Columns    (Monolithic),    in    Public   Library,    Stockton,   California; 

Marble  from  Carrara  Quarry,  Amador  County,  California 86 

Chart  of  Sand  and  Gravel  Prices 91 

Chart  of  Crushed  Rock  Prices 91 

Temescal  Quarry  and  Crushing  Plant  of  Blue  Diamond  Material  Company, 

Near  Corona,   Riverside  County 95 

Court   House   at    Ventura,   California.      Architectural   Terra    Cotta    from 

Gladding,  McBean  and  Company,  Lincoln,  Placer  County 104 

Harvesting  Salt  at  Plant  of  Monterey  Bay   Salt  Company,  Moss  Landing, 

Monterey  County 146 

'Salt    Cake'    Deposit    at    Bertram    Station    in    the    Salton    B.4.sin,    Imperial 

County    148 


LETTER  OF  TRANSMITTAL. 


September,  1923. 

7  0  His  Excellency,  The  Honorable  Friend  Wm,  Richardson, 
Governor  of  the  State  of  California. 

Sir  :  I  bave  the  honor  to  herewith  transmit  Bulletin  No.  93  of  the 
State  Mining  Bureau,  being  the  annual  report  of  the  statisties  of  the 
mineral  production  of  California. 

The  remarkable  variety,  total  valuation,  and  wide  distribution  of 
many  of  our  minerals  revealed  herein  show  California's  importance 
as  a  producer  of  commercial  minerals  among  the  states  of  the  Union. 

Respectfully  submitted. 

Lloyd  L.  Root, 
State  Mineralogist. 


LETTER  OF  INTRODUCTIOxN. 


Tt  is  tlie  (Midccivor  of  tlu'  staff  of  the  State  ]\Iiiiiii,u-  liuceau.  in  these 
animal  ri'i)orts  (tf  llic  iniiicral  industries  of  California.  1o  so  eoni])il(' 
the  statistics  of  pi-odiict  ion  that  they  will  be  of  actual  use  to  iirodiicers 
and  to  those  interested  in  tlic  utilizatiou  of  the  mineral  products  of  our 
state,  Avhile  at  the  same  time  keeping-  the  individual's  data  confidential. 
In  addition  to  the  mere  fi<>'ures  of  output,  we  have  included  descriptions 
of  the  uses  and  characteristics  of  many  of  the  materials,  as  well  as  a 
brief  mention  of  their  occurrences. 

The  compilation  of  accurate  and  dependable  figures  is  an  extremely 
ditiKcult  undertaking,  and  the  State  Mineralogist  takes  the  opportunity 
of  here  expressing  his  api)reeiation  of  the  cooperation  of  the  jiroducers 
in  nuiking  this  woi'k  possible.  A  fuller  appreciation  of  the  value  of 
early  responses  to  the  I'eque.sts  sent  out  in  January  will  result  in 
eai-lier  completion  of  the  manuscript.  Statistics  lose  much  of  their 
value  if  their  pid)lication  is  uiniecessarily  delayed. 

Some  of  the  data  relative  to  properties  a]id  uses  of  many  of  the 
minerals  herein  described  are  repeated  from  preceding  reports,  as  it 
is  intended  that  this  annual  statistical  bulletin  shall  be  somewhat  of 
a  compendium  of  information  on  California's  commercial  minerals  and 
their  utilization. 

Lloyd  L.  Root, 

State  Mineralogist. 


MINERAL  INDUSTRY,  CALIFORNIA,  1922. 


DATA  COMPILED   FROM   DIRECT   RETURNS   FROM   PRO- 
DUCERS IN  ANSWER  TO  INQUIRIES  SENT  OUT  BY 
THE  CALIFORNIA  STATE  MINING  BUREAU, 
FERRY  BUILDING,  SAN  FRANCISCO, 
CALIFORNIA. 


CHAPTER  ONE. 

The  total  value  of  the  mineral  output  of  California  for  the  year 
1922  was  $245,183,826  being  a  decrease  of  $22,973,646  from  the  1923 
total  of  $268,157,472.  There  were  fifty-three  different  mineral  sub- 
stances, exclusive  of  a  segregation  of  the  various  stones  grouped  under 
gems;  and  all  of  the  fifty-eight  counties  of  the  state  contributed  to 
the  list. 

As  revealed  by  the  data  following,  herein,  the  salient  features  of 
1922  compared  with  the  preceding  year,  were :  The  continued  increase 
in  petroleum  yield,  although  of  lower  prices  per  barrel ;  increases  in 
copper,  lead,  natural  gas,  brick  and  tile,  and  crushed  rock;  and 
decreases  in  gold,  silver,  cement,  and  petroleum  values.  The  net  result 
was  a  decrease  in  the  grand  total  of  all  groups  of  nearly  twenty-three 
million  dollars,  as  stated  above.  Petroleum  accounted  for  a  decrease 
of  $29,756,960  in  total  value,  although  there  was  an  increase  in  quan- 
tity of  approximately  26,000,000  barrels. 

Of  the  metals:  copper  increased  from  12,088,053  pounds  worth 
$1,559,358  to  22,883,987  pounds  worth  $3,090,582 ;  lead,  from  1,149,051 
pounds  and  $51,707  to  6,511,280  pounds  and  $358,120 ;  zinc,  quicksilver, 
platinum,  and  iron  ore  also  showed  increases.  Gold  decreased  from 
$15,704,822  to  $14,670,346,  in  spite  of  which  in  1922  California 
accounted  for  approximately  30%  of  the  gold  output  of  the  United 
States. 

Of  the  structural  group :  brick  and  tile  increased  in  value  from 
$5,570,875  to  $7,994,991;  miscellaneous  stone  (comprising  crushed 
rock,  sand  and  gravel,  paving  blocks)  from  $7,834,640  to  $10,377,783 ; 
magnesite,  lime,  marble,  and  onyx  also  increasing;  cement  although 
increasing  from  7,404,221  barrels  to  8.962,135  barrels  in  output, 
decreased  from  $18,072,120  to  $16,524,056  in  value.  Slate  again  joined 
the  active  list  with  a  small  yield. 

In  the  'industrial'  group,  there  were  a  number  of  fluctuations,  the 
more  important  increases  being  shown  by  mineral  water,  pottery  clay, 
gypsum,  and  pyrites;  and  decreases  by  diatomaceous  earth,  and  lime- 
stone. Two  new  items  were  added  in  1922  to  this  list,  not  previously 
produced  commercially  in  California,  namely:  shale  oil  and  sillimanite. 
In  the  saline  group,  potash  and  soda  increased,  with  borates,  mag- 
nesium salts,  salt,  and  calcium  chloride,  decreasing. 

The  figures  of  th(!  State  Mining  Bureau  are  made  up  from  reports 
received  direct  from  the  producers  of  the  various  minerals.     Care  is 


12  MINERAL    INDURTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

ex(M"eiso(l  in  avoidin":  (luplicatioii,  and  any  error  is  likely  to  be  on  the 
side  of  under-  rather  tlian  over-estimation. 

California  yields  commercially  a  greater  number  aiui  variety  of 
mineral  products  than  any  state  in  the  United  States,  and  probably 
more  than  any  other  equal  area  elsewhere  of  the  earth.  The  total 
annual  \alue  of  her  outjiut  is  surpassed  by  not  more  than  four  or  five 
others,  and  those  usually  the  ji-reat  coal  states  of  east  of  the  Mississippi. 
Of  one  item,  at  least,  borax,  California  has  long  been  the  sole  pro- 
ducer ;  and  for  many  years  was  also  the  sole  domestic  source  of 
t'hromite  and  majiiiesite.  We  lead  all  other  states  in  the  production  of 
<>:old,  (piicksilver,  and  platinum;  and  have  alternated  in  the  lead  with 
Colorado  in  tunusten,  and  with  Oklahoma  in  petroleum. 

The  following-  table  shows  the  comparative  yield  of  mineral  sub- 
stances of  California  for  1921  and  1922,  as  compiled  from  the  returns 
received  at  the  State  Mining  Bureau,  San  Francisco,  in  answer  to 
inquiries  sent  to  producers : 


STATISTICS    OF    ANMAI.    I'KODl-CTION. 


13 


Substance 


Iftn 


1922 


Amount 


Asbestos 

Barytes  — 

Bituminous  rock 1 

Borates j 

Calcium  chloride ] 

Cement. 

Brick  and  tile. 

Chromite 

Clay  (pottery) 

Coal  

Copper    

noloniite   

Feldspar  - 

Fullers'  earth 

Gems ] 

Gold  ! 

Granite 

Graphite — . 

Gypsum   -— j 

Infusorial  and  diato- 

maceous  earths  ._--' 

Iron  ore i 

Lead    ' 

Lime ' 

Limestone  ; 

Lithia    

Magnesite       ' 

Mag-nesium  salts j 

Manganese  ore ! 

Marble    

Mineral  paint 

Mineral  water 

Natural  gas 

Onyx    

Petroleum   

Platinum  

Potash    

Punu'cj  and  volcanic 

ash   - - 

Pyrites    

Quicksilver   

Salt 

Sandstone  

Shale  oil 

Silica   (sand    and 

quartz)  

Sillimanite 

Silver  

Slate 

Soapstone  and  talc. 

Soda 

Stone,  miscellaneous'' 

Zinc  - 

Unapportioned 


410  tons 

901  tons 

8,298  tons 

50,1.?6  tons 

dS3  tons 

7,404,221  bbls. 


3t7  tons 

225,120  tons 

12,-J67  tons 

12,0e8,0.J3  lbs. 

31,195  tons 

4,a49  tons 

1,185  tons 


37,412  tons 


1.970  tons 
1,149,051  lbs. 
463,531  bbls. 
75.921  tons 

b 

47,837  tons 

4,1."3  tons 

1,005  tons 

.'?0,232  cu.  ft. 

446  tons 

3,440,278  gals. 

67,043,797  M.  en.  ft. 

2,.t€9  cu.  ft. 
112,599.860  bbls. 

613  fine  oz. 
14,806  tons 

40S  tons 
110,025  tons 

3,1.57  flasks 
19T,9«)  toas 
10,150  cu.  ft. 


Value 

$19,275 

4,809 

43,192 

1,096,326 

22,980 

18,072,120 

5,570,875 

6,870 

362,172 

63,578 

1,550,358 

99,155 

28,343 

8,295 

10,954 

15,704,822 

725,901 

b 

78,875 


12,030 

51,707 

610,619 

305,912 

b 

511,102 

106,140 

12,210 

98,395 

4,748 

367,47fi 

4,704,678 

1,291 

203,1.38,225 

58,7.54 

390,210 

6,310 
473,735 
140,666 
832,702 

2,112 


Amount 


Value 


10,.569  tons 


49,179 


50  tons 

3,370  tons 

4,624  tons 

"39,087  tons 

c 

8,962,135  bbls. 

379  tons 

277,2;?2  tons 

27,020  tons 

22,883,9s7  lbs. 

52,409  toas 

4,587  tons 

6,608  tons 


47,084  tons 


3,588  tons 

6,511,-280    lbs. 

578,748  bbls. 

84,382  tons 

c 

55,637  tons 

3,0.3(5  tons 

540  tons 

38,.?21  cu.  ft. 

1,020  tons 

4,276,.346  gals. 

103,628,027  M.  cu.  ft. 

10,9.-)()  cu.  ft. 
1.38,468,222  bbls. 

795  line  oz. 
17,776  tons 

613  tons 
151,381  tons 

.3,460  flasks 
223,238  tons 

900  cu.  ft. 


9,874  tons 


Increase T 
'  Decrease — 
Value 


$1,800 
18,925 
13,570 

1,068,025 

c 

16,524.056 

7,994,991 

6,334 

473,184 

135,100 

3,090,582 

114,911 

37,109 

48,756 

1.312 

14,670,346 

676,643 

c 

188,336 

c 

18,888 

a58,120 

671,747 

282,181 
c 

504,665 

89,788 

7,6.'50 

127,792 

1.3,277 

486,424 

6,i-90,030 

3,320 

173,381,265 

90,288 

584,388 

4,248 
.570,425 
191,S.'n 
gl9,lS7 

1,100 


31,016 


8,'752  tons 
14,828  tons 


M6,184  lbs. 


130,078 
438,996 

7,834,640 
42,309 

•'726,122 


13,378  tons 
20.084  tons 


3,031,430  lbs. 


Total  values I 5268,157,472 

Net  decrease 


3,629,223    3,100.065 


1S7-,186 

573,661 

10,377,783 

172,963 

'380,.558 


.'^245,183,826 


$17.475 — 
14,1164- 
29,622  — 
28,301— 

c  «_ 

1,548,064— 
2,424,116-^ 
536— 
111,012+ 
71,522  b 
1,531 ,224  T- 
15,7i;at- 
8,766-f- 
40,461-1- 
9,642— 
1,034,476— 
49,258— 
•=  + 

109,461  4- 


6,838 -i- 

303,413  H- 

61,128-1- 

23,731— 

C  

83,.-)63-!- 

16,.352— 

4,.')60— 

29.397-)- 

8,529  (- 

118,948-i- 

2,285,352+ 

2,026+ 

29,753,960— 

.31  ,.534  + 

194,178+ 

2,()62— 
96,690+ 
51,1S')  + 
13,.->1.5— 

1,012- 
+ 

18,163- 
=  + 

529,158- 

C  _i_ 

67,108+ 

134,605  + 

2,543.143+ 

130,654  + 

34.5,564- 


$ffi,973,646— 


■Recalculated  to  40%  'anhydrous  boric  acid'  equivalent. 

''Unapportion?d— includes   graphite,   diatomaceous  earth,   and    lithia. 

•■Unapportioned— includes  calcium  chloride,  graphite,  diatomaceous  earth,  lithia,  shale  oil. 
sillimanite,  and  slate. 

•'Includes  macadam,  ballast,  rubble,  riprap,  paving  blocks,  sand,  gravel,  and  grinding-mill 
pebbles. 


14 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


The  following  table  shows  the  comparative  value  of  the  mineral 
production  of  the  various  counties  in  the  state,  for  the  years  1921  and 
1922: 


County 

1921 

1922 

Alameda    

$1,353,690 

12,041,434 

Alpine 

925 

2.800 

Amador 

2,368,464 

2,479,063 

Butte 

6^,830 

1,525,201 

80,438 

720,625 

1,502,883 

75,934 

Calaveras    -  .. 

Colusa 

Contra  Costa ._ 

1,622,732 

2,397,312 

Del  Norte ._ 

6,029 

6,261 

El  Dorado 

112,756 

184,525 

FtesDo  . 

19,498,503 
103,197 

10,853,4.33 

9i,;ao 

Glenn   

Humboldt -.. 

138,597 

125,613 

Imperial   

182,818 

188,739 

Inyo   

1,460,218 
100,840,933 

2,137,681 
68,651,002 

Kern    

Kings   

5,722 

6,80« 

Lake  

174.389 

48,289 

Lassen  

83,485 

27,327 

Los  Angeles 

31,704.941 

62,751.671 

467,667 

476,264 

Marin   

318.776 

403,099 

342,601 

226,832 

Mendocino 

44,722 

20,526 

33,550 

157,579 

Modoc   __ 

36,650 
56.876 

16.018 

Mono 

86,863 

Monterey   

170,155 

25.3,319 

195,239 

312,270 

Nevada   

2,641,081 

2,966.005 

47,499,030 

38,928.087 

Placer 

4  9  070 
1,798,461 

405,975 

3.314. '98 

Riverside    -- 

4,883,898 

3,243,917 

2,394,894 

2,189,562 

.San  Benito  .  .„ 

1,386,093 

1,794,248 

9,375,W0 

8,547.900 

San  Diego  

501,393 

656.807 

41,562 

65,409 

San  Joaquin   

474.378 

473.395 

129,791 
257,092 

141,470 

San  Mateo 

243,984 

10,190.929 

4,613,3-8 

Santa  Clara  

750.708 

894.036 

4.080,885 

3,608.805 

Shasta  „ 

841, 2«2 

1.513,591 

620.361 

93,147 

3,030,193 

1,770,626 

Siskiyou 

101.463 

3,108.114 

Sonoma 

175.551 

221,911 

236,207 

452.187 

Sutter    _ 

54 

97 

30,820 

9.388 

Trinity    ..        ..    ...      

456.882 
552,234 

197.937 

Tulare   

371.845 

Tuolumne .                   

554.483 

6,245.269 

14.829 

764.938 

5,837.078 

Yolo   

13.4.31 

4,&12.266 

2.588,316 

$268,157,472 

$245,183,826 

STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAIj    PRODUCTION. 


15 


Total    Mineral    Production   of  California,  by  Years. 

The  following  tabulation  gives  the  total  value  of  mineral  production 
of  California  by  years  since  1887,  in  which  year  compilation  of  such 
(lata  by  the  State  Alining  Bureau  began.  At  the  side  of  these  figures 
the  writer  has  placed  the  values  of  the  most  important  metal  and  non- 
metal  items — gold  and  petroleum. 

In  the  same  i>eriod  copper  made  an  important  growth  beginning  with 
1897  following  the  entry  of  the  Shasta  County  mines,  and  more 
recently  Plumas  County.  Cement  increased  rapidly  from  1902,  while 
cruslied  rock,  sand  and  gravel  as  a  group  parallels  the  cement  increase. 
Quicksilver  has  been  up  and  down.  Mineral  water  and  salt  have 
always  been  important  items,  but  the  values  fluctuate.  Borax  has 
increased  materially  since  1896.  War-time  increases,  1915-1918,  were 
shown  ]\v  chromite,  copper,  lead,  magnesite,  manganese,  silver,  tungsten 
and  zinc.  INIost  of  these,  except  silver,  have  since  declined ;  with 
structural  materials  and  copper  increasing  in  1920-1922. 


Total   Mineral   Production  of  California   by  Years,  Since  1887. 


Year 


Total  value  of 

I    all  iiiiuerals 


Gold,  value 


1887 $19,785,868 


1888 
1889 
1890 
1891 
1892 
18D3 
1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
li;04 
1905 
1906 
1907 
1908 
lfK)9 
1910 
1911 
1912 
1913 
1914 
1915 
1916 
1917 
1918 
1919 
1920 
1921 
1922 


Totals. 


19,469,320 
16,681,731 
18,039,666 
18,872,413 
18,300,168 
18,811,261 
20,203,294 
22,844,663 
24,291,398 
25,142,441 
27,289,079 
29,318,460 
32,622,945 
34,355.981 
35,069,105 
37,759,040 
43,778,348 
43,069,227 
46,776,085 
55,697,949 
66,363,198 
82,972,209 
88,419,079 
87,497,879 
88,972,385 
98,(>44,639 
93,314,773 
96,663,369 
127,901,610 
161,202,962 
199,753.837 
195,830,002 
242.099,667 
268,157.472 
245,183,826 


$2,751,150,349 


$13,588,614 
12^50,000 
11,212,913 
12,309,793 
12,728,869 
12,571,900 
12,422,811 
13,923,281 
15,334,317 
17,181,562 
15,871,401 
15,906,478 
15,336,031 
1 5,863,355 
16,989,044 
16,910,320 
16,471,264 
19,109,600 
19,197,043 
18,732,452 
16,727,928 
18,761,559 
20,237,870 
19,715,440 
19,738,908 
19,713,478 
20,406,958 
20,653,496 
22,442,296 
21,410,741 
20,087,504 
16,529,162 
16,695,955 
14,311.013 
15.704,822 
14,670,346 


Petroleum, 
value 


$1,357,144 

1,380,666 

368,048 

384,200 

401,264 

561,333 

608,092 

1,064.521 

1.000,235 

1.180,793 

1,918.269 

2.376,420 

2.660,793 

4,152,928 

2,961.102 

4,692,189 

7,313.271 

8.317,809 

9,007.820 

9.238,020 

16,783,943 

26,566,181 

32,398,187 

37,689,542 

40,552,088 

41,868,344 

48,578,014 

47,487,109 

43,503.837 

57.421,334 

86,976.209 

127.459.221 

142.610.563 

178.394.937 

203.138,225 

173,381,265 


$602,218,554    $1,365,753,916 


IG  .MIXKKAI,    1X1)1  STUV    OF    CAl.ll'OUXIA. 

CHAPTER  TWO. 

FUELS. 

Amonp:  the  most  important  mineral  products  of  California  are  its 
fuels.  This  subdivision  includes  coal,  natural  j;as,  and  petroleum,  the 
combined  values  of  which  made  up  nearly  7o^  of  the  state's  entire 
mineral  output  for  the  year  1922. 

There  are  deposits  of  peat  known  in  several  localities  in  California, 
small  amounts  of  which  are  used  as  a  fertilizer,  and  in  stock-food 
pi-eparations,  but  none  iuis  as  yet  been  recorded  as  utilized  for  fuel. 

Comparison  of  values  during-  1921  and  1922  is  sliown  in  tiie  follow- 
ing table : 


1921                                                       1922 

Increase+ 

Decrea."'.'— 

Value 

Amount 

Value 

Amount                 Value 

Coal    12,467  ton.« 

Natural    gas    67,04.3,797  M.  ni.  ft. 

Petroleum   '  112,599.860  bbls. 

$63,578 

4,704,678 

203,138,225 

27,020  tons 
103,628,027  M.  cu.  It. 
138,468,222  bbls. 

$135,100 

6,990,030 

173,381,265 

$71, .522  + 

2,281,352  + 

29,756,960- 

$207,906,481 

$180,506,395 

$27,400,086  - 

• 

COAL. 

Jiihiiogntphij:  State  Mineralopi.st  Reports  VTI,  XIT.  XIII,  XIV, 
XV,  XVII,  XVIII,  pp.  152-157.  U.  S.  G.  8.,  Bulletins  285. 
316,  431.  471.  5S1  ;  An.  Rep.  22,  Pt.  111. 

Coal  has  been  producetl  in  California  since  as  early  as  1860.  and  until 
the  develo])ment  of  crude  oil  was  an  important  factor  in  the  mineral 
industry  of  the  state.  As  most  of  it  is  lignite,  the  quality  is  gcMierally 
poor  as  comparetl  with  other  coals  on  the  Pacific  Coast  markets.  How- 
ever, in  competition  with  fuel  oil,  coal  of  all  jrrades  has  had  to  take  sec- 
ond place.  Besides  the  counties  noted  below  as  showing  a  commercial 
production  last  year,  workable  l)odies  of  coal  are  also  known  in  several 
others,  including  Alametla,  Amador,  Contra  Costa,  ^Mendocino,  Shasta 
and  Siskiyou.  Some  coal  has  also  been  produced,  in  the  pa.st,  in  Fresno 
and  Orange  counties.  Development  work  is  at  present  being:  done  on 
a  body  of  coking  coal  near  Dos  Rios  in  Mendocino  County. 

During  1922,  i)roduction  was  reported  from  .Monterey  and  l\i\erside 
counties  totaling  27,020  tons,  valued  at  $135,100.  The  increase  is  due 
to  the  reopening  of  tlie  Stone  Canyon  "SUnc  in  ^Monterey  County,  wliieh 
was  ojierated  up  to  August  1st  when  it  was  shut  down.  The  Kiver- 
side  County  ont]nit  Avas  utilized  only  for  local  purposes  at  tlie  mine. 

Total   Coal    Production   of  California. 

The  very  c()nsideral)le  ontjiut  of  coal  in  the  years  previous  to  1883 
was  almost  entirely  from  the  Blount  Dial)lo  district.  Contra  Costa 
County.  Later,  the  Tesla  .Mine  in  Corral  Hollow.  Alameda  County,  was 
an  important  producer  for  a  few  years.  The  following;  tabulation  gives 
the  annual  tonnages  and  values,  according  to  available  records: 


ST.VTISTICS    Ol'    AN'MAl,    I'K(>I>I  ■("ri()X. 


Coal  Output  and 

Value  by  Years. 

' 

Tear 

Tons 

Value 

Tear 

Tons 

Value 

1861 

6.620 

23,400 

43,200 

50,700 

60,530 

84.020 

124.690 

143,676 

157,234 

141.890 

152.493 

190,869 

186,611 

215.352 

166,638 

128,049 

107,789 

134,237 

147,879 

236,950 

140.000 

112.592 

76,162 

77.485 

71,615 

100.000 

50.000 

95,000 

121,280 

110,711 

1   9,3.301 

85,178 

$38,065 
134.550 
248,400 
291.525 
348,048 
483,115 
716,9e,S 
826,137 
904,096 
815,868 
876,835 
1.097.439 
1.073,013 
1,238,274 
958,169 
736.282 
619,787 
771,863 
850,304 
1,362,463 
805.000 
647,404 
380.810 
309,950 
286,460 
300,000 
150,000 
380,000 
288,232 
283,019 
1    2(i4.9i12 
E09.711 

1893  

72,603 
59,887 
79.858 
70.649 
87.449 
143.045 
160,941 
176,956 
150.724 
88.460 
93.026  , 
79.062 
46,500 
24,850 
23,734 
18,496 
49,389 
11.033 
11,047 
14.484 
25.198 
11.859 
10,299 
4,037 
3,527 
6,343 
2,983 
2,078 
12,467 
27,020 

$167,555 

1862   

1894 

139,862 

1863   

1895  

193,790 

1864  - 

1896  

1897  

1898    

161,335 

1865  

1866          

196,255 
337.475 

1867        

1899       

420,109 

1868 

1900  

535,531 

1869       

1901    

401,772 

1870     

1902    .   

248.622 

1871   

1903     --  

265,383 

1872  

1904  

376,494 

1873   

1905  

144,500 

1874 

1875  

1876 

1877  

1878  -  ... 

1906  

1907  

1908  

1909  

1910  

1911  

1912  

61,600 
55,849 
55,503 
216.913 
23,484 

1879  

1880 

18.297 
39,092 

1881 

1882  

1883  

1913  

1914  

1915  

85.809 
28,806 
26,662 

1884  

1885  

1886  

1887 

1916  

1917  

1918  

1919   -  --  .  . 

7,030 

7,691 

16,149 

8,203 

1888 

1920  

5,450 

1889 

1921  

63,578 

1890  

1922  

Totals  

135,100 

1892  

5.204,145 

\  $23,080,588 

The  tonnages  in  the  above  table  for  the  years  1861-1886  (incl.)  are  taken  from  the  U.  S. 
Geological  Survey,  "Mineral  Resources  of  the  U.  S..  1910,"  p.  107.  ITie  values  assigned  for  the 
years  previous  to  1883  are  those  given  by  W.  A.  Goodyear  (Mineral  Res.,  1885.  pp.  93-94).  being  an 
average  of  $5.75  per  ton.  From  1887  to  date  the  figures  are  those  of  the  California  State  Mining 
Bureau. 


NATURAL   GAS. 


BibUo(jr<iphij:  State  MineralogLst  Reports  VII,  X,  XII,  XIII,  XIY. 
]5ulletiiis  3,  16,  19,  69,  73,  89.     Monthly  Summary,  Oil  &  Gas 


Supervisor,  Dec.  1919 


Aug. 


1922 :  Mar.  1923. 


Statistics  on  the  production  of  natural  gas  in  California  are  in  a  con- 
sideraljle  degree  difficult  to  arrive  at,  as  much  of  it  that  is  utilized 
directly  at  the  Avells  for  heating,  lighting,  and  driving  gas  engines  is 
not  measured.  Hence,  it  is  necessary  to  approximate  the  output  of 
many  of  the  operators  in  the  oil  fields,  estimated  on  the  number  of 
lights,  and  on  the  number  and  horsepower  of  gas  engines  and  steam 
boilers  thus  operated.  The  figures  here  given  are  for  gas  utilized 
locally  and  also  that  sold  for  distribution  to  consumers;  and  we  con- 
sider are  not  over-estimated,  particularly  in  the  six  oil-producing 
counties.  It  must  be  remembered  that  several  of  our  important  oil 
fields  are  removed  many  miles  from  the  site  of  any  other  industry,  and 
that  the  gathering  of  small  amounts  of  gas  and  transporting  it  for  any 
considerable  distance  may  not  always  be  profitable.  "Wherever  feasible, 
casing-head  gas  is  used  in  driving  gas  engines  for  pumping  and  drilling, 
and  in  firing  the  boilers  of  steam-driven  plants. 

2—28547 


18  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

The  most  notable  gas  developments  in  California  in  recent  j^ears  have 
been  in  the  Elk  Hills  and  Buena  Vista  Hills  in  Kern  County,  northeast 
of  the  Midway  district,  and  in  the  new  oil  fields  at  Long  Beach  and 
Santa  Fe  Springs  in  Los  Angeles  County.  The  yield  of  natural  gas 
in  the  Los  Angeles  district  is  so  great  that  large  amounts  are  going 
to  waste,  although  every  effort  is  being  made  to  utilize  as  much  as 
possible  for  domestic  and  industrial  purposes. 

Several  counties  produce  gas  which  is  not  accompanied  by  oil,  partic- 
ularly Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin,  where  it  is  mixed  with  manufac- 
tured gas  for  domestic  service.  Tlie  Tulare  Lake  district  in  Kings 
and  Tulare  counties  also  does  not  yield  oil. 

The  subject  of  natural  gas  production  and  its  utilization  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  state  has  recently  been  covered  exhaustively  and 
in  detail  by  Mr.  H.  L.  ]\Iasser\  gas  engineer  for  the  Railroad  Commission 
of  California.  A  portion  of  his  summary  and  conclusions  is  quoted 
herewith : 

"SUMMARY    OF   NATURAL   GAS   FIELDS. 

"The  Midway  and  Elk  Hills  fields  are  now  producing  sufficient  gas  adequately  to 
meet  all  demands  for  field  use,  for  the  City  of  Bakersfield,  San  Joaquin  electric 
plants,  and  for  the  full  capacity  of  the  Midway  transmission  line  to  Los  Angeles. 
Therefore  further  developments  would  not  find  a  ready  market  for  tlie  gas  at  this  time. 

"The  Santa  Maria  and  Ventura  fields  are  adequately  supplying  local  requirements 
and  in  no  way  affect  operations  in  the  Los  Angeles  di.striet. 

"A  very  large  surplus  of  gas  now  exists  over  present  or  proposed  pipe  line  capaci- 
ties in  Long  Beach  and  Santa  Fe  Springs,  and  the  same  condition  quite  likely  will 
soon  be  true  of  Huntington  Beach.  Richfield,  Montebello  and  Coyote  Hills  sliow  a 
decline  in  production,  but  this  is  mucli  more  than  compensated  by  new  production 
at  Long  Beach  and  Santa  Fe  Springs.  All  of  the  fields  mentioned  in  this  paragrapli 
directly  or  indirectly  supply  gas  to  the  Los  Angeles  City  district,  and  the  supply 
available  from  Long  Beach  and  Santa  Fe  Springs  is  entirely  a  matter  of  pipe  lines 
and  compressor  equipment. 

"Tlie  following  tabulation  sets  forth  total  natural  gas  production  by  fields,  as 
analyzed  in  Tables  No.   1  to  8  inclusive,  at  the  end  of  1922. 

"Natural  Gas  Production — Mcf.  per  day. 

"Midway,   Elk  Hills,   Tupman 136,163 

Miscellaneous  San  Joaquin  Valley   Fields 3,265 

Coyote    Hills 12,080 

Montebello    12,880 

Richfield    31,600 

Brea-Olinda     8,300 

Long     Beach 228,915 

■Santa    Fe    Springs 72,170 

Huntington    Beach 20,450 

Salt    Lake 1,700 

Ventura    6.480 

Santa    Maria 8,760 

Casmalia  and   Cat   Canyon 720 


Total   543,180 

"The  above  figure  shows  the  total  amount  of  natural  gas  production  actually 
accounted  for,  and  it  is  quite  safe  to  estimate  that  there  is  a  further  production  of 
about  50,000  Mcf.,  of  which  no  record  has  been  obtained,  making  a  total  gas  pro- 
duction in  the  state  of  about  600.000  Mcf.  per  day.  Only  a  small  jiart  of  this  can 
be  considered  as  available  to  distributing  companies,  as  there  are  deductions  to  be 
made  for  the  requirements  of  the  producer,  in  addition  to  the  very  large  deductions 
necessary  to  cover  low  pressure  gas  wasted  from  widely  scattered  wells  and  gasoline 
absorption  plants.  It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  natural  gas  production  is  rapidly 
changing  from  day  to  day,  and  in  a  large  number  of  instances  it  is  not  economically 
sound  to  construct  pipe  lines  to  certain  wells  to  collect  the  gas,  as  the  supply  might 
be  so  reduced  by  the  time  the  line  is  in  tliat  a  reasonable  return  upon  the  investment 
could  not  be  realized. 

.  "Gas  wastage  is  now  most  general  in  tlie  Long  Beach  field.  Of  the  total  produc- 
tion of  230.000  Mcf.  only  about  30,000  Mcf.  is  delivered  to  distributing  companies, 
and  under  15,000  Mcf.  used  for  lease  and  drilling  purposes,  making  a  total  of  45,000 
Mcf.  of  gas  conserved.  In  addition  aliout  90.000  Mcf.  of  gas  is  put  through  e.xtraction 
plants  to  recover  the  gasoline.  The  only  possibility  of  utilizing  a  portion  of  this  gas 
now  wasted  into  the  air  would  be  through  the  develoment   of   a  greater  market  for 

'Masser,  H.  L.,  Natural  gas  production  and  utilization  in  southern  California,  Cal. 
State  Min.  Bur.,  Summary  of  Cal.  Oil  Field  Operations,  Vol.  S,  No.  9,  pp.  5-66, 
Mar.    1923. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION.  .  19 

gas  ill   I>3S  Angeles  by  a  cliange  of  the  present  standartl  for  domestic  service.     This 
'luestion  is  discussed  later  with  estimates  of  probable  retiuirements. 
"Pipe  Line  and   Compressor   Plant   Facilities. 

"In  most  cases  the  availability  of  gas  to  local  markets  is  a  question  of  pipe  line 
and  compressor  plant  facilities.  '  A  brief  description  of  the  principal  gas  transmis- 
sion lints  and  compressor  plants  is  set  forth   in  the  following  paragraphs: 

"MIDWAY    FIELD. 

"Midway  Gas  Company  has  constructed  a  very  comprehensive  system  of  gathering 
lines  in  the  field,  which  "delivers  high  pressure  gas  to  its  Bakersfleld  lines  and  low 
pressure  gas  to  its  large  compressor  plant  which  raises  the  pressure  to  400  pounds 
for  transmission  to  Los  Angeles.  From  Standard  Oil  Company's  Elk  Hills  leases, 
Midway  Gas  Company  has  laid  an  S-inch  line  and  also  a  10-inch  line  for  delivering 
thf  large  volume  of  gas  produced  there  to  Elk  Hills  Junction  for  transmission  to 
HaktTstield.  or  to  the  Midway  field  and  Los  Angeles  :  and  through  a  6-inch  line  to 
the  McNee  compressor  plant,  where  the  gas  enters  the  main  gathering  line  system. 
An  S-inch  line  about  12  miles  in  length,  running  nerthward  from  the  Hay  lease,  has 
been  laid  to  suppl>-  the  Buttonwillow  plant  of  San  Joaquin  Light  and  Power  Company. 

"The  Bakersfield  transmission  line  may  be  considered  as  starting  at  a  point 
known  as  Elk  Hills  Junction,  four  miles  south  of  the  Hay  lease.  From  this  point 
there  has  been  laid  seven  miles  of  8-inch  line,  to  which  is  connected  ISJ  miles  of 
in-inch  welded  line  extending  to  a  point  about  three  miles  northwest  of  Bakersfield. 
l'>om  this  latter  point  the  line  is  continued  with  12-inch  pipe  a  distance  of  about 
2J  miles,  and  further  extensions  of  6-inch  and  8-inch  lines  serve  the  Kern  River  oil 
fii'lds  with  industrial  gas.  Paralleling  the  10-inch  welded  line  is  the  old  6-inch  line 
originally  installed  by  the  California  Natural  Gas  Company.  The  combined  capacity 
of  the  two  lines  is  about  24.000  Mcf.  at  .'2.50  pounds  pressure  ;  the  previous  lines  to 
Bakersfield  had  a  capacity  of  only  10,000  Mcf. 

"From  the  Midway  compressor  plant  there  extends  110  miles  of  12-inch  line  to 
Glendale  for  supplying  Los  Angeles.  For  a  distance  of  thirty  miles  at  each  end  of 
the  line  there  has  been  laid  a  second  parallel  loop  of  12-inch  welded  pipe  which 
increases  the  delivery  capacity  to  the  former  line  about  8000  Mcf.  daily.  The 
combined  lines  now  have  an  average  intake  capacity  of  3.5,000  Mcf.  and  delivery  of 
about  31,000  Mcf.  at  Glendale  with  small  sales  along  the  line.  The  Midway  com- 
pressor plant  consists  of  four  lOOO  horsepower  Cooper  twin  tandem  gas  engines 
direct  connected  to  compressor  cylinders  and  three  similar  single  units  of  500  horse- 
power each." 

•  **•*«* 

"An  elaborate  system  of  lines  covers  the  Midway  field  where  much  gas  is  sold  for 
oil  well  operations.  Midway  Gas  Company  furnishes  gas  in  wholesale  to  West  Side 
Natural  Gas  Company  for  use  in  Taft.  Maricopa  and  Fellows.  Other  wholesale 
iiit';:surements  are  made  to  the  Bakersfield  Steam  Plant  of  San  Joatiuin  Light  and 
Power  Corporation  and  also  the  Buttonwillow  plant.  The  line  supplying  this  runs 
directly  north  from  the  Elk  Hills  field.  Little  industrial  load  is  obtained  on  the 
Bakersfield  transmission  line  between  the  Midway  fields  and  the  town  of  Bakers- 
field due  to  the  nature  of   the  country   traversed." 

•  *«**** 

"COYOTE    HILLS    LINE. 

"The  original  line  from  the  Coyote  Hills  field  was  completed  about  the  first  of 
1916,  V)eing  an  8-inch  welded  line  fourteen  miles  in  length,  delivering  gas  to  Lynwood 
Meter  Station  south  of  Los  .-Angeles  City.  This  line  operating  at  a  2.50  pounds  pres- 
sure has  a  maximum  capacity  of  about  14,000  Mcf.  Because  of  the  large  quantity 
of  gas  produced  at  Coyote  Hills  in  1917  and  1918,  a  second  8-inch  line  was  laid  at 
that  time,  paralleling  the  first  line  for  half  the  distance  from  the  field  and  then 
branching  northward  and  terminating  at  Vernon  to  deliver  additional  gas  to  Los 
Angeles.  This  second  line  is  now  connected  with  the  Midway  compressor  plant  at 
Santa  Fe  Springs,  which  has  a  capacity  of  about  6000  Mcf.  At  Coyote  Hills  Standard 
Oil  Company  has  installed  compressor  plants  of  about  33,500  Mcf.  capacity." 
******* 

••  *  *  *  These  lines  are  now  so  interconnected  that  gas  may  be  transported 
from  one  district  to  another  to  satisfy  load  requirements  and  to  "permit  the  most 
advantageous  utilization  of  tlie  gas.  This  arrangement  is  of  special  advantage 
during  winter  periods  of  heavy  gas  demand.  At  the  present  time  over  12,000  Mcf. 
of  gas  is  delivered  via  several  lines  from  Richfield  to  Coyote  Hills  and  thence  to 
Los  Angeles." 

******* 

"Extending  northwesterly  from  Coyote  Hills,  Southern  Counties  Gas  Company  has 
built  a  4-inch  line  taking  gas  from  that  source  to  its  Whittier  and  Montebello  dis- 
trict, and  further  continuance  of  this  line  has  been  made  to  Monrovia.  Recently  a 
new  8  and  10-inch  line  has  been  laid  by  Southern  Counties  Gas  Company  from  La 
Habra  to  Montebello.  This  line  is  tied  in  to  the  Company's  Santa  Fe  Springs  system 
and  because  of  its  many  interconnections,  makes  a  very  flexible  operating  system. 
With  the  development  of  gas  in  the  Montebello  field,  a  new  Monrovia  line  was  built, 
as  well  as  a  6-inch  line  for  delivering  surplus  gas  to  Southern  California  Gas  Com- 
pany at  Laguna.  Compressor  plant  equipment  in  this  field  is  15,000  Mcf.  on 
Standard  Oil  Company  leases. 

"The  Orange  County  districts  of  Southern  Counties  Gas  Company  were  first 
served  through  a  6-inch  line  from  Coyote  Hills  extending  to  Anaheim  and  Santa 
Ana  with  branch  lines  to  adjacent  towns,  including  a  long  extension  to  Newport 
Beach. 


20 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


'BREA-POMONA    LINE. 


"This  is  an  8-inch  line  about  12  miles  in  lengtli  wliich  takes  its  supply  from 
Southern  Counties  Gas  Company's  compressor  plant  at  Brea  (gas  being  obtained 
from  tlie  local  field  and  Rielifield).  Tlie  capacity  of  tliis  plant  is  5000  Mcf.  From 
Pomona  gas  is  delivered  to  immediately  adjacent  towns  and  furtlier  westward  as 
far  as  Covina  and  Azusa.  Since  the  latter  part  of  1919  gas  has  also  been  furnished 
to  the  Chino-Colton  line  of  Southern  California  Gas  Company. 

"RICHFIELD    LINES. 

"Upon  the  development  of  large  quantities  of  gas  in  this  district  Southern  Counties 
Gas  Company  connected  this  field  with  its  Orange  county  lines  from  Coyote  Hills. 
Later  the  Industrial  Fuel  Supply  Company  entered  the  field  and  built  a  compressor 
plant,  which  now  has  a  capacity  of  13,000  Mcf..  and  laid  an  8-inch  welded  line  to 
the  City  of  Long  Beach,  a  distance  of  approximately  22  miles.  This  line  transmits 
gas  for  L'nion  Oil  Company's  refint  ry  at  Wilmington,  and  provides  a  material  portion 
of  the  supply  to  Long  Beach,  Wilmington  and  San  Pedro.  Standard  Oil  Company 
has  constructed,  upon  its  Kraemer  lease,  a  plant  of  13,000  Mcf.  delivering  gas  to 
Industrial  P^iel  Supply  Company  and  for  \'arious  purposes  about  the  lease.  In 
order  to  promote  the  better  utilization  of  gas  produced  in  the  Richfield  District, 
Industrial  Fuel  Supply  Comriany  has  recently  laid  a  10-inch  line  connecting  its 
plant  with  tlie  two  lines  of  Midway  Gas  Company  at  Coyote  Hills,  and  at  present 
daily  deliveries  over  this  line  amount  to  about  12, GOO  Mcf.  Southern  Counties  Gas 
Company  has  also  connected  it.s  Brea  Station  with  its  4-inch  line  to  Whittier.  By 
arrangement  of  lines  it  is  possible,  within  certain  limits,  to  make  available  gas  from 
any  of  the  fields  to  any  of  the  districts  served,   provided  pressures  are  adequate. 

"SANTA    FE   SPRINGS    LINE. 

"Midway  Gas  Company  has  constructed  twelve  miles  of  16-inch  welded  line  to 
deliver  gas  from  the  Santa  Fe  Springs  field  direct  to  the  gas  works  of  Southern 
California  Gas  Company.  This  is  one  of  the  bi,ggest  steps  recently  taken  for 
materially  increasing  the  cuiantity  of  natural  gas  available  to  Los  Angeles  City. 
LTnder  relatively  low  pressures  this  line  has  a  capacitj'  of  2."), 000  Mcf.  Its  full 
operation  will  depend  very  largely  upon  the  installation  of  field  compressor  plants 
for  gathering  low  pressure  gas  from  the  various  leases,  or  the  development  of  more 
high  pressure  dry  gas  in  the  Santa  Fe  Springs  field.  Standard  Oil  Company  is  now 
constructing  a  compressor  plant  of  6000  Mcf.  to  SOOO  Mcf.   capacit.v. 

"LONG    BEACH    LINES. 

"Southern  California  Gas  Company  has  for  a  long  time  operated  an  8-inch  line 
fi-om  its  gas  generating  plant  in  Los  Angeles  to  Long  Beach,  this  line  first  furnish- 
ing artificial  gas.  Due  to  recent  developments  in  the  Long  Beach  oil  field  Southern 
Counties  Gas  Company  is  now  able  to  meet  all  requirements  of  the  Long  Beach 
district  for  that  source,  so  this  S-inch  line  is  now  principally  used  for  delivering 
gas  northward  to  Los  Angeles  from  the  Lynwood  and  Vernon  Meter  Stations. 
Midway  Gas  Company  has  iust  completed  a  4 -unit  compressor  plant  at  Long  Beach 
for  delivering  gas  to  the  General  Pipe  Line  Company's  Cherry  Pump  Station.  The 
surnlus  above  the  General  Fine  Line  Company's  requirements  is  delivered  to 
Soutliern  California  Company's  S-inch  line  at  Compton.  A  connection  between  this 
line  and  the  Hedondo  line  has  recently  been  made,  thereby  permitting  the  delivery 
of  gas  from  Long  Beach  oil  field  to  Torrance  and   Redondo   Beach. 

"Industrial  Fuel  Supply  Company  is  now  installing  a  12-inch  unit  compres.sor 
plant  in  the  Long  Beach  oil  field  for  taking  low  pressure  gas  from  leases  of  Shell 
Company  and  others  for  delivery  to  Southern  Coimties  Gas  Company's  Long  Beach 
district.      At   present   there  is  considerable  sale  of  giis  for  oil    field   purposes. 

"REDONDO    LINE. 

"The  Redondo  line  is  a  12-inch  line  ciperated  b.v  Southern  California  (!as  Company. 
An  8-inch  line  brandies  off  to  the  south  furnishing  large  amounts  of  gas  for  indus- 
trial purposes  in  Torrance.  I-^om  Redondo  Beach  the  line  has  l)een  extended 
northerly  to  Playa  Del  Rey  for  delivering  gas  to  the  Santa  Monica  Bay  district  of 
Southern  Counties  Gas  Company.  This  district  is  nominally  served  with  mixed  gas 
and  in  order  to  provide  this  service  a  mixed  gas  line  has  been  laid  from  Southern 
California  Gas  Company's  holder  at  Slauson  and  Western  Avenue  to  El  Segundo. 

"HUNTINGTON    BEACH    LINE. 

"At  Huntington  Beach  is  an  S-inch  line  laid  by  Murphy-Dillon  Company  at  the 
outset  of  active  drilling  operations  in  the  Huntington  Beach  oil  field.  Much  disap- 
pointment was  experienced  in  regard  to  this  line  as  very  little  gas  was  developed 
by  the  early  drilling  at  Huntington  Beach,  and  the  line  was  used  to  take  gas  into 
the  field  rather  than  out  of  it.  Present  indications  point  to  large  gas  production 
and  it  is  expected  that  this  line  will  soon  gecome  operative  for  delivering  gas  to 
other  districts  to  the  north.  Standard  Oil  Company  is  now  operating  a  private 
line  out  of  this  field  and  also  maintains  a  compressor  station  of  12-units,  delivering 
over  10,000  Mcf.  for  use  upon  its  own  properties. 

"COLTON-CHINO    LINE. 

"The  Colton-Chinu  line  is  an  S-inch  line  twenty-two  miles  in  length  laid  by 
Southern  California  Gas  Company  in  1919  for  supplying  natural  gas  to  its  Sail 
Bernardino  Valley  division.  Gas  is  purchased  at  Chino  from  Southern  Counties  Gas 
Company,  this  being  surplus  above  the  requirements  of  its  Pomona  district.  The 
demand    for    gas    in    the    San    Bernardino    district    is    now    about    3000    Mcf.    with    a 


STATISTICS   OF    AX  MA  I.    I'KOnrCTION.  21 

possible  peak  of  4000  Mcf.  During  tlio  winter  perifnl  Soiitliern  roiinties  Gas  Com- 
pany has  not  a  sufficient  supply  availai>li-.  Kroni  ("olton,  whicli  is  the  central 
distributing  point.  Southern  California  Gas  Company  has  laid  0-inch  lines  to  River- 
side and  San  Bernardino  and  a  4-incli  line  to  Redlands.  A  4-inch  line  also  taps  the 
Chino-Colton  line  to  supply  Corona.  All  of  these  transmission  mains  arc  fully 
adequate  to  meet  their  local  demands.  Any  inadequacy  results  from  inability  of 
Southern  Counties  Gas  Company  to  supply  present  demands,  which  are  materially 
in   excess  of  sales  contracted   for  between    the    two   companies. 

"SAWTELLE    LINE. 

"The  Sawtelle  line  is  really  a  part  of  tlif  Los  Angeles  Cit>-  district  system  and  is 
a  6-inch  mixed  gas  line  from  Soutliern  California  Gas  Company's  gas  plant  to 
Sawtelle.  and  provides  the  principal  supply  of  the  Santa  Monica  Bay  district.  This 
line  has  now  become  inadecjuaie  malcing  ntcessary  further  delivery  at  El  Segundo,  as 
above  referred  to.  Plans  now  being  prei)ared  contemplate  the  replacement  of  a 
portion  of   this  line  this   year   with  a    16-inch   line   through   I-.OS  Angeles  City. 

"LOS   ANGELES   CITY    DISTRICT   TRUNK    LINES. 

"Because  of  the  extremdN-  lajiid  growth  of  Los  Angeles  and  immediately  adjacent 
towns,  all  companies  have  had  great  difficulty  in  rendering  proper  service.  In 
order  to  meet  tlie  demands  the  Los  Angeit-.s  Gas  Company  has  recently  completed 
the  installation  of  16-incli  welded  lines  to  Hollywood,  Pasadena,  Alliambra  and  the 
southern  part  of  the  city.  These  new  lines  permit  the  transmission  of  much  greater 
volume  of  gas  than  previously  possible  and  a  much  lower  pressure.  Southern  Cali- 
fornia Gas  Company  has  laid  8-inch  lines  from  its  Western  Avenue  holder  to  furnish 
mixed  gas  to  Santa  Monica,  and  has  also  constructed  lines  connecting  its  system 
with  Long  Beach  oil  field.  Additional  compressors  and  holders  discussed  later  have 
been  added  to  the  plants.  The  following  is  a  summary  of  gas  available  to  Los 
Angeles  City. 

"Summary  of   Natural  Gas  Available  to   Los   Angeles  City. 

"By  Midway  (Jas   Company  :  Mcf. 

Froni   Midway   field   through  Glendale 3L0O0 

From  Coyote   Hills-Soutliern  Counties   Gas   Co 2,500 

From  Richfield,  through  Coyote  Hills-Industrial  Puel  Supply 

Companv     12,500 

From  Santa   Fe   Springs* 25,500 

From  Long  Beach  through  Compton 10,000 

"By   Southern   California  Gas   Company : 

From   Salt   Lake   fields 1.250 

Total  natural  gas  delivered  to  Ix)s  Angeles  City , 82,750 

♦Does  not  include  oil  field  and  Fullerton  line  deliveries  amounting  to  about 
9500  Mcf. 

"At  present  this  gas  is  being  distributed  about  equally  between  Southern  California 
Gas  Company  and   Los  Angeles  Gas   Company." 

"General   Summary  and   Conclusions. 

"This  Report  may  be  most  readily  summed  up  by  recapitulation  of  the  principal 
divisions  of  the  discussion  and  short  comments  in  regard  to  each.  It  has  been  the 
desire  to  study  as  ful'y  as  possible  the  matter-  of  natural  gas  production  and 
utilization  in  the  various  oil  fields  and  to  give  this  subject  special  attention,  as  at 
the  present  time  total  gas  production  and  wastage  have  increased  to  immense  pro- 
portions and  are  attracting  much   public   interest. 

"NATURAL   GAS    PRODUCTION. 

"Estimated  total  gas  production  in  the  oil  fields  of  this  state  now  amounts  to 
approximately  540,000  Mcf.  per  day,  of  which  amount  about  100,000  Mcf.  is  used  b,v 
the  producer,  200,000  Mcf.  is  sold  to  distributing  companies,  and  the  balance  of 
240.000  Mcf.  is  being  wasted.  This  wastage  is  equivalent  to  45.000  barrels  of  oil 
per  day  and  of  this  amoimt  70  per  cent  is  in  the  Long  Beach  field.  An  immense 
quantity  of  gas  amounting  to  about  2.'?0.000  Mcf.  is  produced  in  Long  Beach  field  at 
the  present  time.  However,  upon  completion  of  drilling  in  the  productive  gas  area 
it  appears  reasonable  to  believe  there  will  be  a  raoid  decline  in  the  total  gas  pro- 
duction of  the  field,  and  within  a  year  and  a  half  it  is  quite  possible  that  only  30,000 
Mcf.  to  40,000  Mcf.  will  then  be  available  to  distributing  companies.  The  Santa  Fe 
Springs  field  appears  to  be  offering  somewhat  better  potentialities  for  continued  gas 
production  in  large  commercial  (luantities  as  there  has  bt-en  found  a  verv  productive 
high  pressure  gas  formation.  Present  developments  at  Huntington  Beach  point  to 
greatly  increased  gas  production  there  within  the  very  near  future,  and  if  possible 
an  attempt  should  be  made  to  formulate  measures  for  minimizing  gas  wastage 
there.  The  other  fields  described  are  on  a  settled  production  basis  and  are  declining 
at  rea.sonably  slow   rates  dependent  to  a  large  extent  upon   their  age. 

"TRANSMISSION    FACILITIES. 

"Comparison  of  gas  production  figures  of  the  various  fields,  and  the  demand 
requirements  of  the  several  districts  served,  indicates  that  in  eastern  Los  Angeles 
county  ample  transmission  facilities  are  now  installed.  The  transmission  line  from 
Brea  to  Pomona  is  becoming  inadequate  for  meeting  all  the  domestic  winter  load 
now  placed   upon   it,   however  another   line   through   Carbon   Canyon   is   contemplated. 


22  lUlNKKAL    INDUSTKV    (JF    CALIKOR^ilA. 

Further  pipe  line  cfiparity  from  Ix>ng  Beach  to  I.os  Angeles  might  well  be  installed 
if  a  sufficient  industrial  market  can  be  obtained.  It  is  most  probable,  however,  that 
any  investment  in  sucli  a  line  would  liave  to  be  amortized  at  a  very  high  rate  because 
of  the  expected  short  life  of  the  field.  Phins  are  now  under  way  for  materially 
increasing  mixed  gas  deliveries  from  Los  Angeles  Citv  to  Sawtelle,  and  providing 
an  ample  supply  to  that  point.  The  ciuantity  of  natural  gas  now  piped  to  Los 
Angeles  City  for  all  purposes  amounts  to  approximatelv  94,000  Mcf.  per  day,  while 
a  further  net  amount  of  about  56,000  Mof.  is  delivered  to  Southern  Counties  Gas 
Company,  making  total  daily  deliveries  to  distributing  companies  of  about  150,000  Mcf. 

"NATURAL    GAS    REQUIREMENTS. 

"Domestic  gas  operations  in  Los  Angeles  are  mounting  at  a  most  rapid  rate,  with 
peak  day  gas  sendouts  growing  in  an  ever  increasing  proportion.  The  increase  in 
the  number  of  domestic  gas  consumers  on  tlie  system  of  the  Los  Angeles  Gas  Com- 
pany and  the  city  district  of  Southern  California  Gas  Company  amounted  to  about 
40,000  during  tlie  year  1922,  giving  a  total  number  of  consumers  of  approximately 
260,000  on  January  1,  1923.  A  peak  day  sendout  of  80,000  Mcf.  of  750  B.t.u.  gas 
by  Los  Angeles  Gas  and  Electric  Company  was  estimated  for  this  past  winter.  How- 
ever, this  figure  was  exceeded  with  a  sendout  of  100,800  Mcf.  of  700  B.t.u.  gas. 
Southern  Counties  Gas  Company  is  now  ser^'ing  about  85,000  consumers  with  gas 
from  its  own  sources.  This  includes  the  San  Bernardino  district  but  excludes  Santa 
Monica,  the  latter  district  receiving  gas  in  wholesale  from  Southern  California  Gas 
(^'ompany.  The  estimated  peak  day  domestic  demand  of  Soutliern  Counties  Gas 
Company  is  31.600  Mcf.  The  combined  peak  day  domestic  demand  of  all  distributing 
companies  was  estimated  at  144,900  Mcf.  witli  total  average  daily  deliveries  of 
126,000  Mcf.  The  distribution  of  the  natural  gas  between  companies  and  districts 
is  not  sucli,  even  if  practical  operating  conditions  would  permit,  that  less  than 
about  55.000  Mcf.  to  60,000  Mcf.  of  artificial  gas  must  be  generated  to  meet 
domestic  demands. 

"ESTIMATED    FUTURE    GAS   REQUIREMENTS   AND   PROBABLE    SUPPLY. 

"ReasonaVile  tonservative  estimates  of  probable  future  gas  supply  available  to 
distributing  companies  point  to  a  total  of  about  160.000  Mcf.  of  natural  gas  in  June, 
1924.  and  proliably  135,000  Mcf.  a  year  later.  It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that 
these  estimates  are  based  upon  limiti'd  information  and  involve  much  variable  and 
rather  undependab!e  data.  Of  the  above  figure  it  is  believed  that  about  lOO.OdO  Mcf. 
per  day  of  natural  gas  may  be  anticipated  as  available  to  Los  Angeles  City  require- 
ments in  January.  1924.  and  90,000  Mcf.  in  January,  1925.  Estimated  city  "peak  day- 
requirements  for  the  same  period  amount  to  81,000  Mcf.  and  91,000  Mcf.,  respectively, 
for  the  maintenance  of  750  B.t.u.  standard. 

"Investigation  of  probable  immediate  increases  of  natural  gas  available  to  Los 
Angeles  city  indicates  the  possibility  of  raising  the  present  mixed  gas  standard  from 
750  B.t.u.  to  825  to  850  B.t.u.,  which  higher  value  it  appears,  with  present  informa- 
tion, could  be  maintained  for  a  period  of  about  two  and  a  half  years.  Any  such 
increase  of  gas  quality  will  result  in  a  proportionate  reduction  in  quantity  of  gas 
sold  and  with  present  conditions  of  about  equally  low  oil  and  gas  prices,  only  a 
small  economy  would  result  from  the  use  of  more  natural  gas,  so  a  higher  rate 
would  therefore  be  required  in  order  to  provide  the  utilities  with  the  same  rate  of 
return   as   is  now   being  earned. 

"ADEQUACY    OF   GAS    PLANT    FACILITIES. 

"A  study  of  facilities  in  Los  Angeles  indicates  that  ample  artificial  gas  generating 
equipment  is  now  installed.  Additional  storage  and  compressor  equipment  is.  how- 
ever, needed  to  keep  pace  with  the  heavy  growth  of  the  district  experienced  this 
year.  Plans  for  such  work,  together  with  very  extensive  enlargeinents  of  distribu- 
tion lines  are  complete,  and  some  of  the  work  is  in  progress,  notably  the  construction 
of  two  ten  million  foot  gas  holders.  Additional  natural  gas  transmission  lines  have 
been  completed  to  the  city  and  have  thus  added  to  the  total  gas  available  and  to  the 
security  of  the  service." 

Production  and   Value. 

There  is  rather  a  wide  variation  in  prices  quoted  for  natural  .£ras 
because  sucli  a  large  ])roportion  is  used  directly  in  the  field  for  driving 
gas  engines  and  firing  boilers,  and  is  therefore  not  measured  nor  sold. 
Such  companies  as  have  attempted  to  place  a  valuation  on  the  gas  that 
was  thus  used  in  1922  gave  from  2(^-20^  per  1000  cubic  feet,  at  the  well. 
From  the  totals  shown  in  the  tabulation  following  herein,  the  average 
value  for  all  fields  in  1922  works  out  at  approximately  6.7^.  Approxi- 
mately 7000  cubic  feet  of  gas  is  equal  to  one  barrel  of  oil  in  heating 
value,  and  is  so  accounted  for  by  many  operators.  In  driving  gas 
engines,  about  4000  cu.  ft.  per  24  hr.  are  consumed  by  a  25  li.p.  engine, 
and  63,700  cu.  ft.  per  day  for  heating  a  70  h.p.  steam  ])oiler,  which 
figures  have  been  utilized  in  compiling  this  report,  in  those  cases  where 
gas  was  not  metered. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


23 


NATURAL    GAS,    1922. 


County 


M  cu.  ft. 


Value 


Fresno 
Kern   .. 
Kings   . 


Los  Angeles  — 

Orange    

San  Joaquin  — 
Santa    Barbara 
Tulare   


Ventura 

Butte,  Humboldt,  Lake,  Mendocino,  Sacramento,  Sutter,  Tuba* 


1,694,000  I 
47,(>«,633 

1,790  , 

23,254,549 

25,269,402 

199,389 

1,876,900 

380 

3,583,818 

103,076 


Totals    - —  103,828,027 


$89,277 

2,282,100 

870 

1,^3,571 

2,096,629 

62,454 

167,290 

190 

636,502 

101,147 


$6,990,030 


•Combined  to  conceal  output  of  an  individual  producer  in  each. 

Tlie  above  totals  for  1922  compare  with  67,043,797  M.  eu.  ft.  valued 
at  $4,704,678  in  1921.  being  an  increase  of  55%  in  quantity,  and  of 
49%  in  value.  The  Los  Anjjeles  County  vield  jumped  from  6,944,277 
U.  cu.  ft.  to  23,254,549  M.  eu.  ft. ;  and  Orange  County  from  14,097,639 
M.  cu.  ft.  to  25,  269,  402  M.  cu.  ft.  Kern  County,  in  spite  of  having  a 
])()rtion  of  her  oil  Avells  shut  in,  showed  an  inerease  of  approximately 
16%  in  natural  gas  yield.  Small  increases  were  registered  by  Santa 
]>arbara  and  Ventura  counties,  and  a  slight  decrease*  in  tlie  (-oalinga 
fi(>ld,  Fresno  Count^•. 


Natural   Gas   Production   in   California,  Since  1888. 

The  production  of  natural  gas  in  California  by  years  since  1888  is 
given  in  the  following  table.  Tlie  first  economic  use  of  natural  gas  in 
California  was  from  the  famous  Court  House  well  at  Stockton,  bored 
in  1854-1858.  Beginning  about  1883  and  for  several  succeeding  years, 
a  number  of  gas  wells  were  brought  in  around  Stockton.  Natural  gas 
was  known  in  a  number  of  other  localities,  and  occasionally  utilized  in 
a  small  way,  notably  at  Kelseyville  in  Lake  County,  and  in  Humboldt 
County  near  Petrolia  and  Eureka,  but  there  are  no  available  authentic 
records  of  amounts  or  values  previous  to  the  year  1888.  The  most 
important  developments  in  the  commercial  production  of  natural  gas 
have  been  coincident  with  developments  in  the  oil  fields,  by  utilizing 
the  casing-head  gas  as  well  as  that  from  dry-gas  wells. 


Year 


1888. 
1889. 
1890. 
1891. 
1892. 
1893. 
1894. 
1895. 
1896. 
1897. 
1898. 
1899. 
1900. 
1901. 
1902. 
1903. 
1904. 
1905 . 


M  cubic  feet 


n2,000 

»14,500 

"41,250 

"39,000 

•75,000 

"84,000 

"  "85,080 

"  "110.800 

•"131,100 

"71.300 

•111,165 

115,110 

40,566 

120.600 

120,968 

120,134 

144,437 

148,^5 


Value 


$10,000 
12,680 
33,000 
30,000 
55.000 
68,500 
79,072 

112,000 

111,457 
62,657 
74,424 
95,000 
34,578 
92,034 
99,443 
75,237 
91,035 

102,479 


M  cubic  feet 


Value 


168,175 

169,991 

842,883 

1,148,467 

10,579,933 

•5,000,000 

"12,600,000 

14.210,836 

16,529,963 

21,992,892 

28,134,365 

44,343,020 

46,373,052 

52,173,503 

58,567,772 

67,043,797 

103,628,027 


$109,489 

114,759 

474,584 

616,932 

1,676.367 

491.859 

940.076 

1,053,292 

1,049,470 

1,706,480 

2,871,751 

2,964,922 

3,289,524 

4,041,217 

3,898,286 

4,704,678 

6,990,030 


485,092,231       $38,232,312 


"Quantity,  in  part,  estimated,  where  values  only  were  reported. 
•■Includes  natural  CO2  from  a  mine  in  Santa  Clara  County. 


24 


MINERAl,    IXDliSTlJV    OK    CALIFOKXIA. 


Gasoline   From    Natural   Gas. 

Moi'c  or  less  gas  usiiall\'  acenni|>aines  the  potnjliMini  in  the  oil  fields, 
and  sueh  t^as  ean-ies  varying'  aiiioiiiits  ol'  gasoline.  ]\I()i'e  than  ilO  plants 
are  in  operation  recovering  gasoline  hy  compression  or  absorption 
from  this  'casing-head'  gas.  After  the  gasoline  is  extracted,  the  remain- 
ing 'dry  gas'  is  taken  into  the  pipe  lines,  hy  which  it  is  distributed 
to  consumers,  Ixtth  domestic  and  commercial. 

In  the  Midway  field,  some  of  the  casing-head  gasoline  is  obtained  as 
an  incidental  product  to  the  compressing  of  the  natural  gas  preliminary 
to  transmission  thi-ongli  the  f!;n^  pipe  lines.  Some  concerns  market 
casing-head  gasoline  separately,  while  others  turn  it  into  the  oil  pipe 
lines,  thus  mixing  this  high-gravity  gasoline  with  the  crude  oil  for 
transportation  to  the  refinery,  where  it  is  later  regained.  A  total  of 
6;^-,l!)l,38]  gallons  of  casing-head  gasoline  valued  at  .$8,138,551  from  all 
fields  was  reported  by  ^)o  operators,  as  made  during  1922.  This  com- 
pares with  53,699,797  gallons  by  47  operators  in  1921.  It  was  dis- 
tributed by  counties,  as  follows: 


County 


Frvsno  

Kern   

Los  Angeles  -.. 

Oi-Hiige    

Santa  Barbara 
Ventura  


Totals   — - 63,191,381 


Gallons 

gasoline 

Value 

642,749 

.$129,39.'5 

30,982,474 

3,461,064 

3,206,217 

579,103 

16,934,026 

2,090,102 

7,643,164 

1,1.-)0,203 

3,782,751 

728,536 

63,191,381 

$8,138,551 

The  usual  recoveries  of  gasoline  from  natural  gas  vary  from  one-half 
gal.  to  3  gal.  per  1000  cu.  ft.  of  gas  handled,  the  average  being  about 
1  gal.  per  1000  cu.  ft. 


PETROLEUM. 

Biblioqmplni:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  IV,  VII,  X,  XII,  XIII. 
Hulietins,  3,  11,  16,  19,  31,  32,  63,  69,  73,  82,  84,  89.  Reports  of 
Oil  and  CJas  Supervisor  1915  to  date  (issued  in  raonthlv  chapters 
since  April,  1919).  V.  S.  Geol.  Surv.,  Bulletins,  213,  285,  309, 
317,  321.  322,  340,  357,  398,  406.  431,  471,  541,  581,  603,  621, 
.     623,  653,  691 ;  Prof.  Papers,  116,  117. 

Petroleum  is  the  chief  fuel  resource  of  California,  and  California  led 
all  other  states  of  the  Union  in  the  number  of  barrels  of  crude  oil  ])ro- 
duced  in  1922.  California,  witli  Oklahoma,  has  enjoyed  the  distinction 
in  recent  years  of  standing  at  the  head  of  the  oil  list  on  several 
occasions.     California's  oils  are  nearly  all  of  asphalt  base. 

The  crude  oil  i)rodu('tion  of  California  for  1922  amounted  to  a  total 
of  138,4(i8,222  barrels  of  clean  oil,  valued  at  -1^173,381.265  at  the  well. 
This  total  of  (|uantity  is  compiled  from  tlie  monthly  production  reports 
Hied  by  the  operators  with  the  State  O'il  and  Gas  Supervisor,  to  which 
have  been  added  figures  for  the  outi)ut  of  a  number  of  small  operators 
in  the  Los  Angeles  city  field  not  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Super- 
visor, and  from  one  property  in  Santa  Clara  County. 


STATISTICS    OK    AXMAI.    I'HOni'CTlONr.  25 

Till'  (jin-stion  ol"  the  valur  of  tlic  cnulc  oil  yield.  ;it  the  well,  is  a 
difficult  one  to  settle  with  exaetitnde,  principally  because  a  large  part  of 
the  output  is  nut  sold  until  after  refinin^;.  The  larire  i-ef1iu'rs  are  also 
larire  producers  of  crude  oil  which  they  send  ilirect  from  well  to  plant, 
hence  nuich  of  the  cnule  is  not  sold  as  such.  The  value.s  used  in  the 
statistical  reports  of  the  State  Mining  Bureau  since  1914  have  been 
derived  from  averages  of  actual  sales  of  crude  oil  of  all  grades  in  each 
field  of  the  state,  and  these  averages  applied  to  the  total  yield  of  the 
respective  fields.  This  we  feel  is  a  safer  measure  of  commercial  values 
than  market  (|^u)tations,  because  quotations  do  not  always  mean  sales. 

Features  of  1922. 

The  outstanding  features  of  the  year  11)22  in  the  oil  inilustry  of 
("alifurnia  were  the  enormous  increases  in  Los  Angeles  and  Orange 
counties  d\u'  to  new,  gushei-  wells  yielding  high-gravity  oil,  and  the 
consequent  overproduction,  necessitating  the  shutting-in  of  low-gravity 
wells  in  othei-  fields  of  the  state.  This  resulted  in  decreased  output  of 
crude  oil  in  Fresno,  Kern,  and  Santa  liarbara  counties.  The  upward 
h>ap  of  production  in  Los  Angeles  (,'ounty  (outside  of  the  city  field) 
due  mainly  to  new  wells  at  Long  Beach  and  Santa  Fe  Springs  was  most 
remarkable,  the  first  si.x  months  of  1022  showing  a  yield  of  S,7r)4,240 
bari-els,  and  the  second  six  months  28,74(1,577  barrels.  Orange  County 
increased  more  than  8.()0(),()0(>  barrels  over  its  1921  figure.  Ventura 
County  increased  ap])r()xiinately  800.000  barrels.  Decreases  amounted 
to  approximately  :-5.000,UOO  barrels  in  Fresno  County  and  4,000,000 
bai-rels  in  Kern  County. 

There  were  two  reductions  in  prices  quoted  for  crude  oil  at  the  well, 
ainiounced  by  the  marketing  companies  in  July,  1922.  and  a  further 
reduction  posted  January  (i,  1923.  These  reductions  have  only  to  a 
limited  extent  afi'ected  the  production  total  by  causing  the  shutting-in 
of  wells  yielding  oil  of  the  lower  specific  gravities  and  in  the  districts 
outside  of  the  areas  w^here  intensive  campaigns  of  new  developments 
are  taking  place.  The  unj^recedented  increase  in  production  has  taxed 
the  storage,  transj)ortation,  and  refining  facilities  of  all  of  the  market- 
ing concerns.  Shipments  by  sea  via  the  Panama  Canal  to  Atlantic  sea- 
board points  has  been  of  vital  assistance. 

According  to  Collom/  in  December : 

"Consumption  has  been  greatly  increased  by  shipment.s  of  crude  and  fuel  oil  to 
the  Atlantic  Coast  via  the  Panama  Canal.  Existing  differentials  in  prices  and 
transportation  costs  between  California  crudes  and  the  so-called  Mexican  light  crude 
are  enabling  California  marketers  to  ship  oil  in  quantities  estimated  as  high  as 
50,000  barrels  daily.     'I'liis  condition  has  created  a  new  outlet  for  ('alifornia  petroleum. 

"Ca'ifornia  production  still  leads  consumption  l)y  about  2.000.0(10  barrels  monthl.y. 
In  addition  it  is  estimated  tliat  2000  wells,  with  a  normal  output  of  al)Out  "i  2,000.  are 
sliut  down.  A  large  part  of  the  oil  shut-in  is  heavy  grade,  less  than  20  dcg.  Baume. 
Oil  in  storage  at  the  end  of  r>e<'ember,  1922.  was  about  1,000,000  barrels  in  excess  of 
tlic  storage  of  May,  lOlTi,  the  pi-evious  iiigli  point  foi-  stored  oil.  Production  at  the 
close  of  1922,  not  including  potential  production  shut-in,  was  170, OdO  barrels  in  excess 
of  the  average  production  increa.se  over  the  period  1911  to  1921,  inclusive,  and  con- 
sumption was  ,'?.'), 000  l)arrels  in  excess  of  the  average  consumption  increa.se  over  the 
same  period. 

"Krilling  was  concentrated  in  tlie  Huntington  Beach,  Long  Beach  and  Santa  Fe 
Springs  oil  fields  during  1922  and  greatly  curtailed  in  the  other  fields,  especially  in 
tlie  San  Joaquin  Valley.  Very  few  wells  are  being  drilled  in  tlie  oil  fields  of  Fresno, 
Santa  Barbara  and  X'entura  counties.  On  the  w1to1(>,  iiowevcr,  more  new  wells  were 
reported  to  the  State  Oil  and  Gas  Supervisor  in  1922  than  in  1921.  1439  new  wells 
were  reported  in  1922  and  12S7  new  wells  in  1921.  799  new  wells,  .''..') Vr  of  the  drilling 
of  the  State,  were  reported  in  the  three  new  fields  ;  Huntington  Beach,  193  wells,  Long 
Beach    34  8    wells,   and  Santa  Fe   Springs,    258   wells. 

iCoUom,  R.  E.,  Weekly  press  bulletin.  No.  375:  Dept.  of  Petroleum  and  Gas;  Cal. 
State   Min.    Bur.,   Dec.    30,    1922. 


26  MINERAT;   INDUSTRY    OP    CALIFORNIA. 

"The  present  situation  of  overproduction  in  California  is  due  primarily  to  the 
competitive  drilling  of  offset  wells  on  or  adjoining:  small  property  holdings.  In  the 
development  of  each  of  the  three  new  fields  town-lot  drilling  lias  played  a  predominat- 
ing part.  Town-lot  drilling  should  not  be  confused  with  close  drilling  or  small  acreages 
per  well.  Tlie  spacing  of  wells  in  several  California  fields,  such  as  Kern  River  and 
McKittrick,  are  on  an  average  basis  of  2.0  to  2.4  acres  per  well.  In  tliese  fields  how- 
ever, are  ten,  twenty  and  forty  acre  tracfts.  or  larger,  in  wliich  wells  were  spaced 
according  to  what  the  operator  considered  was  the  most  economical  plan  for  extracting 
the    oil. 

"In  town-lot  drilling  every  well  is  in  a  sense  an  offset  well.  The  size  and  shape 
of  the  property  controls  the  spacing  of  offset  wells.  They  may  be  only  .50  feet  apart. 
Offset  wells  are  not  drilled  so  much  for  the  purpose  of  developing  and  producing 
that  oil  to  which  each  operator  has  an  unhindered  right,  within  his  own  property 
lines,  as  to  get  the  oil  lying  under  each  side  of  the  isoundary  line,  which  will  move 
to  the  well  first  drilled  into  the  oil  sand.  This  condition  is  one  of  the  recognized 
fundamentals  of  oil  field  development,  and  where  properties  are  leased,  the  leases 
carefullj'  safeguard  each  lessor's  interest  as  opposed  to  the  ad.ioining  lessor.  The 
necessities  of  drilling  offset  wells,  to  meet  lease  requirements,  is  tlferefore,  one  of  the 
greatest  contributory  factors  to  forced  drilling  where  small  property  ownerships  are 
involved. 

"Intensive  offset  drilling  necessitates  abandonment  of  the  principle  of  leaving 
certain  ciuantitics  of  recoverable  oil  in  its  underground  storage  until  the  maximum 
profit  can  be  obtained,  and  then  bi'in.sjiiig  the  oil  to  the  surface  by  drilling  the 
wells  according  to  established  oil  field  practice,  as  to  spacing  and  careful  drilling 
methods.  Wells  are  raced  to  production  and  each  new  producing  well  calls  for  a 
nimiber  of  offsets. 

"In  the  town-lot  oil  fields  wells  have  been  drilled  as  close  as  three  to  an  acre. 
Town-lot  drilling  brings  rapid  recovery  of  flush  production.  For  the  industry  as  a 
whole  it  means  serious  overproduction.  For  the  operator  drilling  in  congested  areas 
there  is  not  enough  oil  underground  to  yield  a  profit  for  all  against  the  cost  of 
each  well,   the  productive  unit. 

"The  rate  of  production  of  California  petroleum  has  its  high  and  low  points, 
like  every  other  oil  producing  district,  in  the  inexorable  workings  of  the  law  of  supply 
and  demand.  It  would  seem  possible,  however,  by  careful  study  of  development 
problems  and  intelligent  effort,  to  level  off  some  of  the  extremely  high  and  low 
points  in  the  curve.  Sometimes,  when  oil  is  badly  needed,  as  in  the  war  period, 
operators  do  not  know  where  to  get  it,  or  how  best  to  get  the  maximum  output 
with  minimimi  use  of  money,  men  and  materials.  In  the  present  condition  much 
oil  is  a\ailable  but  it  is  being  produced  like  a  big  gusher  out  of  control,  because 
there  is  not  the  proper  economic  machinery   to  regidate   the   flow. 

"It  is  ))ossible  that  some  of  the  economic  evils  of  town-lot  drilling  could  be 
eliminated  by  carefully  considered  legislation.  Such  legislation  should  recognize  tlie 
equitable  right  of  every  property  owner  in  tlio  oil  under  his  land,  whether  a  small 
lot  or  ten  acres,  and  should  rigorously  prevent  the  exploitation  of  California's  most 
valual)le  mineral  resource  by  the  stock  jobbers  and  'uniteers.'  " 

One  of  the  outstanding  features  of  tlie  production  record  for  the 
year  1922,  is  that,  although  the  oil  production  of  Los  Angeles  and 
Orange  counties  increased  from  35,6-15,081  barrels  of  oil  in  1921  to 
68,544,308  barrels  in  1922,  an  increase  of  95%,  the  water  production 
only  increased  5.6%.  To  anyone  familiar  with  the  complex  subsurface 
conditions  as  to  stratigraphic  relationship  of  oil  and  water  in  the  three 
new  fields,  which  have  been  so  rapidly  developed,  this  is  evidence  of  the 
value  and  effectiveness  of  the  work  of  supervision  by  this  bureau's 
department  of  petroleum  and  gas. 

Outlook  for  1923. 

The  outlook  for  the  current  year  is  that  the  figures  of  crude  oil  yield 
of  the  previous  year  will  be  exceeded.  At  present  writing  (July  2),  the 
])eak  has  not  yet  been  reached.  However,  notices  filed  with  the  State 
Oil  and  (Jas  Supervisor  during  the  week  ending  June  16,  1923,  showed 
a  marked  decrease  in  the  number  of  new  wells  reported  ready  to  drill, 
in  fact  the  least  number  so  reported  since  November,  1921,  the  decrease 
l)eing  especially  noticeable  for  Santa  Fe  Springs,  Long  Beach,  and 
Huntington  Beach  fields;  but  it  will  be  some  time  before  this  decrease 
in  the  number  of  wells  being  drilled  will  refiect  corresponding  decreases 
in  production.  For  example,  it  takes  about  75  days  to  drill  a  well  to 
comi)leti()n  in  the  Meyer  sand  at  Santa  Fe  Springs  and  tlierefore  the 
M'ells  now  drilling,  and  not  those  .just  starting,  must  be  considered  to 
get  an  idea  of  tlie  activities  of  the  next  thret^  months  during  which  time 
a  large  proportion  of  the  wells  now  drilling  will  be  completed. 


STATISTirS    0['^    AXNTAI.    PRODrf'TIOX. 


27 


Relative  to  the  situation  in  that  section,  tlie  State  Oil  and  Gas  Super- 
visor has  written  the  following.- 

"The  continuous  intensive  drilling  of  the  HuntinRton  Beach.  Long  Beach  and 
Santa  Fe  Springs  oil  fields  of  southern  California  has  brought  oil  production  to  the 
saturation  point.  Almost  a  half  million  barrels  of  crude  oil  is  flowing  daily  from  the 
three  southern  fields.  Since  frenzied  town-lot  development  started  in  the  early- 
part  of  1921,  there  has  been  only  one  way  of  preventing  such  an  outcome — to  curtail 
drilling.  The  complicated  interests  of  lessors,  royalty  holders,  drilling  contractors 
and  town-lot  operators,  seem  to  have  made  accomplishment  of  a  concerted  effort  in 
this  direction  impossible.  A  forced  reduction  in  drilling  and  production  through  the 
Inexorable  workings  of  the  law  of  supply  and  demand  appears  to  be  the  only  remedy. 

"Four  reductions  in  the  value  of  the  crude  product  within  a  year  have  caused 
no  appreciable  check  in  drilling.  Over  .")0n  wells  are  now  drilling  in  the  three  fields. 
A  recent  movement  to  restrict  the  output  of  individual  wells  will  further  curtail  the 
profits  derivable  from  each  producing  unit.  The  over-supply  is  being  more  actively 
maintained  by  initial  productions  of  wells  just  completed  than  the  rapidly  declining 
old  wells.  Initial  production  of  12  wells  recently  completed  at  Santa  Fe  Springs 
averaged  3950  barrels  per  well  as  compared  with  an  average  daily  production 
of  1600   barrels  per  well   for  all   producing  wells  in   the  field. 

"It  should  be  borne  in  mind — in  this  town-lot  development — that  an  appreciable 
amount  of  drilling  has  been  financed  by  people  not  experienced  in  the  oil  industry. 
They  have  invested  in  things  hoped  for  rather  than  sfen.  Probably  such  drilling 
will  continue  regardless  of  the  profit  that  can  be  realized  from  the  product.  It  is 
estimated  that  $58,000,000  has  been  expended  in  drilling  alone  since  these  fields 
started.  The  three  fields  have  produced  approximately  90,700,000  barrels  from 
January  1,  1921,  to  May  1,  1923. 

"At  the  beginning  of  1921  there  were  43  producers  of  petroleum  in  Los  Angeles 
and  Orange  counties.     In  January,  1923,  the  number  of  producers  had  increased  to  175. 

"There  has  been  no  material  change  in  the  number  of  marketing  concerns.  Five 
of  the  large  marketing  companies  of  California  are  confronted  with  the  huge  task 
of  taking  care  of  a  major  portion  of  the  production,  providing  transportation,  storage, 
and  refining  facilities,  for  a  greater  additional  quantity  of  crude  oil  than  these  same 
companies  handled  throughout  the  entire  plant  of  the  industry  at  the  beginning  of 
1921. 

"Marketers  can  not  receive  oil  or  provide  storage  for  it  beyond  the  conservative 
limits  of  their  financial  resources  or  responsibility.  The  cost  of  building  steel 
storage  alone  is  55  to  60  cents  per  barrel  of  capacity.  The  Santa  Fe  Springs  oil 
field  can  fill  five  55,000  barrel  tanks  in  one  day. 

"Some  of  the  factors  of  the  present  situation  as  affecting  the  public  are  these : 

"The  laws  of  supply  and  demand  and  the  natural  competition  in  the  industry  has 
given  the  public  the  benefit  of  exceptionally  low  prices  of  gasoline.  Gasoline  in 
California  is  now  retailing  for  the  lowest  price  it  has  reached  in  seven  years.  But 
the  factor  that  is  forcing  a  reduction  in  the  price  of  gasoline,  namely,  overproduc- 
tion of  refinable  crudes,  is  drawing  in  a  wasteful  way  on  reserves  of  crude  oil  and 
natural  gas  which  properly  should  be  conserved  for  the  future.  The  necessity  of 
giving  the  maximum  accommodation  in  transportation,  storage,  and  refinery  facilities, 
for  the  refinable  crudes  of  southern  California  has  forced  a  marked  curtailment  in 
production  and  transportation  of  low-grade  crudes  in  other  fields,  the  principal 
source  of  California's  fuel  oil." 

Production   Figures. 

The  following  table  gives  the  production  and  value  by  counties  for 
1922  compared  with  the  1921  figures: 

TABLE   A. 
Production   and   Value   of   Oil,   by   Counties. 


1921 


1922 


Barrels 


Fresno    -— —  12,161,565 

Kfrn  57,434,945 

Los  Angeles 12,395,605 

Orange   22,929,466 

San  Luis  Obispo :  30,725 

Santa  Barbara   i  5,465,942 

Ventura    I  2,167,326 

San  Mateo  and  Santa  Olara* 14,286 



Totals !  112,599,869 


Value 


Barrels 


$18,643,679 

97,639,407 

25,79>,254 

45,999,509 

43,691 

9,122,657 

5,869,119 

27,909 


9,265,526 

53,512,157 

37,726,367 

31,049,491 

33,856 

3,931,155 

2,933,685 

15,985 


Value 


$9,895,-^82 

64,803,222 

52,930,053 

36,483,162 

31,892 

3,974,398 

5,236,628 

28,288 


$203,138,225      ai38, 468,222      $173,381,265 


•Conibinod  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  San  Mateo  County. 
"See  p.  2  4.   ante. 


=Cnllom.  K.  E..  "V\^e.-klv  pres.s  bulletin,  No.   3:)3  :   Dept.  of  Petr.  and  Gas,  Cal.   State 
M?.   Bur.,  May  5,   1923.  ' 


28 


MINER.VI.    INDUSTKV    Ol'    CAl-lFOKXIA. 


TABLE    B. 
Average    Price    of    Oil    per    Barrel,    by    Counties,    1915-1922. 


County 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

1919 

1920 

1921 

1922 

Fresno 

$0,452 
.409 
.550 
.675 

$0,515 
.423 
.629 
.612 

$0,516 
.611 
.651 
.663 
.450. 
.794 
.663 
1.045 

$0,825 

.893 

1.176 

1.003 

.926 

.808 

1.387 

1.318 

$1,191 
1.252 
1.340 
1.412 
.905 
1.235 
1.700 
1.480 

$1,293 
1.350 
1.380 
1.860 
1.040 
1.125 
1.600 
1.635 

$1,483 
1.714 
1.532 
2.138 
1.400 
1.575 
1.485 
2.507 

$1,068 
1.211 
1  jn'? 

Kern   

Los  Angeles  

Orange    -  -- 

1      ^^i'\ 

Ran  Luis  Obispo 

0  942 

Santa  Barbara         --    -- 

.460 

..530 

1.050 

.611 
.666 
.855 

1  on 

Santa  Clara 

1  616 

Ventura    --    

1  785 

Stats  average  .    ._. 

$0,461 

$0,479 

$0,636 

$0,908 

$1,278 

$1,409 

$1,728 

$1,249 

The  low  price  in  Santa  Barbara  County  foi-  1919  and  1920  was  dne 
to  ;i  large  production  of  8°  to  10°  gravity  oil  from  the  Casmalia  field, 
which  brought  only  about  50^-  i)er  barrel  in  1919  and  39^  in  1920.  For 
.several  years  previous  to  1919,  the  state  average  value  per  barrel  at 
the  well  for  crude  oil  as  determined  by  the  statistical  returns  was  noted 
to  practically  coincide  with  the  quotations  during  the  same  years  for 
23°  gravity  oil.  In  1919.  the  average  value  for  all  grades  worked  out 
at  a  figure  corresponding  to  the  quotations  for  28°  oil,  due  to  the  fact 
that  the  increased  output  of  that  year  was  mainly  from  the  jVIontebello 
field  in  Los  Angeles  County  which  yielded  high-gravity  oil.  The  1920 
figure  of  .^1.726  corresponds  api>roximatelv  to  the  average  of  quota- 
ticms  for  24°-25°  oil  for  the  year;  the  1921  figure  of  $1,804.  to  26° 
quotations;  and  the  1922  figure  of  $1,249,  to  27°  tiuotations. 


TOTAL    PETROLEUM    PRODUCTION    OF   CALIFORNIA. 

The  presence  of  oil  seepages  and  springs  in  Los  Angeles  and  Ventura 
counties  was  known  and  even  utilized  in  a  small  way  early  in  the 
history  of  California.  According  to  Hanks,"  in  1874  production 
amounted  to  36  bbl.  per  day  from  natural  flows  in  Pico  Caiion  (New- 
hall),  and  at  Sulphur  ^lountain  (Ventura  County),  the  oil  being  of 
32°  gravity  average. 

*'^'Work  was  commenced  in  Pico  Canon  in  1875,  by  drilling  three 
shallow  wells  with  spring  pole,  all  of  which  yielded  oil  at  depths  of 
from  90  to  250  feet.  Actual  work  of  development  commenced  with 
steam  machinery  in  1877." 

In  1877.  Pico  averaged  40-50  bbl.  daily,  and  Ventura,  80  bbl.  daily. 
In  1878,  there  was  some  production  (  @  60  l)bl.  per  day,  for  a  time) 
from  wells  in  Moody  Gnlch.  near  Los  Gatos,  Santa  Clara  County,  the 
oil  being  of  46°  Baume. 

The  fi!-st  wells  in  the  Coalinga,  Fresno  County,  and  Snmmerland. 
Sania  l^arhara  County,  fields  were  drilled  in  ]89().  but  Coalinga  did 
not  make  its  influence  felt  conspicuously  on  tiie  state's  annual  output 
until  1903.  The  Summerland  yield  never  has  been  large.  The  Salt 
Lake  field  near  Los  Angeles  JK^gan  production  in  1S94  and  in  18!)7 
reached  over  a  million  I)arrels  annually. 

In  the  Kern  Countx'  fields,  the  flrst  well  was  drilled  in  Sunset  in 
1891,  Midway  in  1900',  McKittrick  in  1892,  Kern  Kiver  in  1899.     The 

••^danks,  Henry  G.,  Report  IV  of  State  Mineralogist,  p.  298,  1884. 
*Idem,  p.  301. 


STATISTICS    OF    ANNIAI,    I'ROOlKn'ION. 


29 


Suiis('t-Mi(l\v;iy  .listrid  filt;iin.'(l  ;i  yield  of  ov.t  4.(K»0.()()()  l.hl.  in  liJOD, 
and  over  2(>,(H)().(H)U  hhl.  in  1!»1(>.  Kciii  I{iv(>r  Held  prodiu'cd  ovt-r 
;},()()(),0()0  1)1)1.  in  ]f)01. 

The  first  well  in  the  Santa  .Maria-Lompoc  group,  Santa  Barbara 
Ck)unty,  was  drilled  in  U)()l,  and  the  distriet  advaneed  to  a  yield  of 
over  ;3'.000,0UU  bhi.  annually  in  IDOo. 

The  Whittier-Fullerton  field  in  Los  Angeles  and  Orange  counties 
became  an  important  factor  in  1902.  Tlie  ^Nlontebello  field,  Los 
Angeles  County,  was  the  conspicuous  addition  in  191S-19in;  and  Elk 
Hills.  Kern  County,  with  Huntington  Beach  and  Uichtield,  Orange 
County,  in  1920.  In  1921,  the  new  fields  added  were  Long  Beach  and 
Santa  Fe  Springs,  Los  Angeles  County.  In  1922,  Torrance  field  in  Los 
Angeles  County,  and  AVheeler  Kidge  field  in  Kern  County  were  added. 

The  effect  of  the  advent  of  these  various  fields  to  the  producing 
column  will  be  noted  in  the  tabulation  herewith,  bv  vears: 


TABLE   C. 
Total   Petroleum    Production   in    California. 


Year 


To  and  inc.  1875 

1876 

1877 

1878 

1879 

1880 

1881 

1882 

1883 

1884 

1885 

1886 

1887.. 

1888 

1889 

1890 

1891 

1892 

1893... 

1894 

1895... 

1896 

1897 

1898 

1899 


Barrels 


°]  75,000 

12,000 

13,000 

15.227 

19,858 

40,552 

99,862 

128.636 

142,857 

262.000 

325.000 

"877,14", 

678,572 

690,333 

303,220 

307,360 

323,600 

385,049 

470,179 

783,078 

1,245,339 

1.257,780 

1,911.569 

2,249,088 

2,677,875 


Value 


'■$472,500 

30,000 

29,250 

30.454 

39,716 

60,828 

124,828 

257.272 

285,714 

655,000 

750.750 

'■870,205 

1,357,144 

1,380,666 

368,048 

3&4,20O 

401,264 

561,333 

608,092 

1,064,521 

1,000,235 

1,180,793 

1,918,269 

2,376,420 

2,660,793 


Tear 


1900 

1901 

1902 

1903 

1904 

1905 

1906 

1907 

1908 

1909 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913... 

1914 

1915 

1!>1(T 

1917 

1918 

1919 

1920 

1921 

1922 

Totals- 


Barrels 


4,329,950 

7,710,315 

14,356,910 

24,340,839 

29,736,003 

34,275,701 

32,624,000 

40,311,171 

48,306,910 

58,191,723 

77,697,568 

84,648,157 

89,689,250 

98,494,532 

102,881,907 

91,146,620 

90,262,557 

95,396,309 

99,731,177 

101,182,962 

103,377,361 

112,599,860 

138,468,222 


Value 


^,152,928 

2,961,102 

4,692,189 

7,313,271 

8,317,809 

9,007,820 

9,238,020 

16,783,943 

26,566,181 

32,398,187 

37,689,542 

40,552,088 

41,868,344 

48,578,014 

47,487.109 

43,503,8:37. 

57,421,334 

86,976,209 

127,459,221 

142,610,563 

178,394,937 

203,138,225 

173,381,265 


I 


I,591,6.i4,ia3  i  $1,:369,360,439 


"U.  S.  G.  S.,  Min.  Res.  of  U.  S.,  1886,  p.  440,  for  quantities  to  and  including  188fi. 

•'Values  have  been  estimated  for  the  years  to  and  including  1886,  after  consulting  a  number 
of  contemporaneous  publications,  including  the  Mining  &  Scientific  Press,  Reports  of  the  State 
Mineralogist,  and  U.  S.  Reports.  The  figures  for  1887  to  date  are  from  records  of  the  State 
Mining  Bureau. 


30 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Well   Data. 


The  following  table  is  compiled  from  the  monthh'  statements  con- 
tained in  the  Standard  Oil  Bulletin  : 


TABLE    D. 
Well    Operations,    by    Fields,   1922. 


Producing   ;'  Producing       Completed 
'  J.,    1      during 

year 


Dec,  1921   i  Dec,  1922 


Abandoned 

during 

year 


Bbl.  per  well 
]     produced 
I      per  day 
Dec. 1922 


Kern   River   

MeKittrick  

Midway-Sunset   

Kile  Hills*  

Lost  Hills^Belridge 

Coalinga 

Santa  Maria-Lompoc  . 

Ventura-Xewhall 

Los  Angeles-Salt  Lake. 

Whittier-Fullerton    

Coyote* 

Santa  Fe  Springs* 

Montebello* , 

Richfield*    

Huntington-Newport  .- 

Long  Beach* 

Torrance-Redondo* 

Summerland  

Watsonville 


2,207 

350 

2.707 


612 
1,176 
416 
526 
671 
1,116 


51 


Totals- 


137 
9 


9,978 


2,159 

283 

2,156 

88 

417 

679 

322 

557 

669 

551 

234 

70 

116 

169 

153 

137 

13 

135 

8 


8.916 


24 

4 

230 

24 
4 

12 
3 

34 

a 

70 
3 

70 
8 

18 
222 

93 

U 


836 


6 
5 

28 
2 
2 

11 
8 

11 
1 
3 
2 
9 
1 
7 
7 

11 


H4 


9.1 

23.0 

35.5 

311.2 

16.0 

20.6 

23.3 

18.8 

5.0 

22.4 

75.9 

1,280.0 

160.0 

115.0 

413.0 

785.0 

168.0 

1.1 

7.5 


»55.8 


•Segregated  records  beginning  Aug.,  1922. 
"State  average. 


Specific  Gravities  of  Oils   Produced. 

The  proportion  of  heavv  and  light  oil  produced  in  the  various  fields 
is  shown  in  Table  E,  following,  for  which  we  are  indebted  to  the 
Standard  Oil  Company.  Under  present  practice,  oil  below  18°  Baume 
may  be  considered  as  largely  refinable  for  fuel  oil  and  lubricants,  while 
the  lighter  oils  yield  varying  amounts  of  the  higher  refined  products 
with  corresponding  proportions  of  residuum  and  fuel  oil.  Specific 
gravities  in  California  range  from  8°  Baume  in  the  Casmalia  field,  Santa 
Barbara  County,  to  56°  Baume  in  Ventura  County. 

California  crude  oils  are  all  essentially  of  asphalt  base,  with  a  few 
notable  exceptions.  In  the  following  localities  are  wells  yielding  crudes 
containing  both  a.sphalt  and  paraffine  constituents :  Oil  City  field,  Coal- 
inga ;  a  few  deep  wells  in  East  Side  field.  Coalinga ;  a  considerable  part 
of  the  A'entura  Count.v  fields ;  Western  ^Minerals  area,  south  of 
Maricopa  ;  Wheeler  Ridge,  Kern  County. 


STATISTICS    OK    ANKIAf,    PRODUCTIONT. 


31 


TABLE    E. 
Production    of    Light   and      Heavy    Oil,    by    Fields,    1922. 


Field 


Under  18" 
(barrels) 


18°  and  OTei 
(barrels) 


Total 
(barrels) 


Kern  River 

McKittrick-   

MidwnySiinset    

Lost  Hills  and  Belridge.- 

Wliceler  Ridge 

Ooaling-a   

Santa   Muria-Lompoc  — 
Ventura   County-Newhali 

Log  Angeles-Salt  Lake 

WliittierFiillerton 

Santa   Fe   Sjirings 

Huntington  Beach  

Signal    Hill 

Torrance-Redondo  

Suuinicrland    

Watsonville  


Totalg 


7,323,869 

2,383,169 

10,779,392 

693,160 


4,045,462 
1,872,119 
118,792 
1,177,926 
1,057,314 


631,325 
35,005 
30,831 
54,005 
23,725 


30,126,094 


30.926,486 

2,150,087 

500 

5,092,959 

2,023,123 

2,930,087 

126,335 

26,262,925 

10,976,873 

10,670,462 

18,213,262 

152,740 


109,525,839 


7,323,869 

2,383,169 

41,705,878 

2,843,247 

500 

9,138,421 

3,895,2)2 

3,048,879 

1,304 ,2fil 

27,320,239 

10,976,873 

11,201,787 

18,218,267 

183.571 

54,005 

23.725 


139,651,933 


In  the  Sept(Miil)cr  1!)22  issue  of  'Mining  in  California '■  was  published 
a  chart  which  reveals  the  fact  that  a  decided  chanpe  has  taken  place  in 
the  relative  propoi-tioiis  of  liizht  and  heavy  crudes  ])roduced  in  Cali- 
fornia since  1910,  taking  18^  Bauna^  as  the  dividing  line. 

A  marked  drop  took  place  in  the  low-gravity  yield  from  1910  to  and 
including  1914.  From  1914,  it  has  remained  almost  stationary,  with  a 
slight  drop  in  1921.  while  the  hisli-gravity  yield  has  increased  at  a 
rapid  rate  since  1915.  The  propt)rtions  have  been  reversed  from 
approximately  15%  low— 257o  high  in  1914  to  25%  low— 757o  high  in 
1921.  This  has  been  an  important  factor  in  its  effect  upon  the  average 
price  per  l)arrel  of  the  state's  output  in  these  years.  Its  effect  upon 
the  relative  situation  between  production  and  consumption  has  also  been 
important.  It  has  been  a  fortunate  development,  in  view  of  the 
increased  demand  for  refinery  products  (gasoline,  in  particular),  and 
the  lessened  demand  for  fuel  oil  the  past  three  years  owing  in  part  to 
the  shutting  down  of  the  western  copper  smelters  which  were  large 
consumers  of  California  fuel  oil. 

The  beginning  of  1921  was  marked  by  the  discontinuance  of  dra^ving 
on  storage,  owing  to  the  current  production  of  crude  oil  overbalancing 
consumption.  This  still  continues,  so  that  on  December  31,  1922,  the 
stock  on  hand  amounted  to  61.184,928  barrels,*^  an  increase  of  26.163,016 
])arrels  over  the  35,021,912  barrels  on  hand  December  31,  1921. 


Operating   Data. 

The  following  tabulation  (Table  F)  is  compiled  from  data  published 
by  the  Department  of  Petroleum  and  Gas,"  semiannually,  and  here 
combined  to  .show  the  entire  year's  operations  for  all  the  fields.  The 
'districts'  are  the  geographical  subdivisions  as  administered  by  the 
Department,  and  which  are  outlined  on  the  accompanying  map. 

.'Report  XVIII  of  State  Mineralogist,  p.   442,   1922. 
"Standard  Oil  Bulletin,   February,   1923. 

'Eighth  Annual  Report:  Monthly  sunimaiy  of  operations,  Aug.,  1922,  p.  20; 
Feb.,  1923,  pp.  6-7. 


A'2  MhNKK.VIi    INDUSTRY    OK    CAMFORNIA. 

The  column  (IcsiofMatt'd  'potoiitiar  was  iii.sei-tcd  to  show  the  potential 
number  of  wells  in  the  areas  alVectetl  by  the  shutting-in  due  to  over- 
production, as  compared  with  tlie  numl)er  actually  producing  during 
that  period. 

It  will  be  noted  that  the  state  average  yield  of  oil  per  well  per  day 
was  38.8  barrels  for  the  first  six  months  and  52.8  barrels  for  the  second. 
This  compares  closely  Anth  the  tigure  of  55,8  barrels  average  for 
December  derived  from  Standard  Oil  Company  data  and  shown  in 
Table  I),  on  a  preceding  page. 


STATISTICS    OK    ANMAI-    PRoniCTIOX. 


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MINERAL    INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


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STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL    PKODUCTION. 


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36 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OP    CAIJFORMiA. 


Financial   and   Operating   Conditions   of  California   Oil    Fields,   1922. 

Financial  results  of  the  oil  business  during  1922  are  shown  by  the 
following  table.  The  features  worthy  of  mention  are:  (1)  the  lower 
price  received  for  the  year  as  shown  by  the  state  average  of  all  grades. 
(2)  a  slight  increase  in  the  total  amount  of  dividends  paid.  (3) 
increases  in  the  number  of  barrels  per  well  per  day  yield  (see  Table  I), 
for  all  'fields'  exce])t  Kern  River  and  Santa  Barbara  (bounty.  (4) 
somewhat  lower  operating  costs  in  most  fields. 

With  reference  to  Table  I,  it  should  be  noted  that  altliough  it  lacks 
data  from  the  larger  operators  who  have  refineries  and  with  interests 
in  more  than  one  field,  yet  the  data  given  are  of  economic  value  and 
interest  in  that  they  indicate  the  conditions  prevailing  among  the 
smaller  companies  and  operators. 

Oi)erating  cost  per  well  is  not  always  lower  for  the  dividend  compa- 
nies than  others.  Profitable  operations  seem  to  depend  generally  upon 
large  wells,  high-grade  oil,  and  proximity  to  market.  Price  and  profits 
have  usually  been  greater  in  the  Los  Angeles-Orange-Ventura  fields 
than  in  others,  doubtless  largely  due  to  the  proximity  to  market  and 
higher  grades  of  oil.  Crude  oil  testing  as  high  as  56°  Baume  is 
obtained  from  some  of  the  Ventura  wells. 

TABLE   G.     CAPITALIZATION. 


Field 


Number  of 
companies 
considered* 


Per  cent 

of  total 
product 
of  field 


Capital 


Cash 


Property 


Fresno  County— Coaling-a 

Kern  County: 

Kern  River  

Midway    

Sunset-JVIarieopa 

McKittriek,  Lo&t  Hills,  Belridge.  Devils  Den, 

Elk  Hills  

Los  Angeles  County 

Orange  County  

Santa  Barbara   County 

Ventura  County  

Subtotals 

Miscellaneous  and  marketing-  companies^ 

Totals 


62 

86      ) 
52      J 

58 
121 
59 
22 
45 


571 
98 


35 

27 
26 

90 
14 
25 
26 
6i 


61 


$2,701,943  $8,901,709 


7,901,539 
(  6,053,127 
)      2,909,571 

3,341,930 
11,971,983 
9,883,623 
1,830,641 
2,255,545 


5,149,172 
18,258,543 
11,754,071 

10,242,671 

18,058,516 

12,864,397 

5,246,926 

9,739,307 


$48,849,932 
332,255,504 


$100,215,312 
108,721,021 


$381,105,436      $208,946,333 


*See  Table  I,  following. 

^Includes  companies  having  reflnerie«,  and  those  operating  in  several  fields  whose  data  could 
not  be  segregated  as  to  counties  or  fields. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL   PRODUCTIOX. 


37 


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MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    C-VLIFORXIA. 


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STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  39 

Proved   Oil   Land. 

The  area  of  proved  oil  land  increased  during  1922  to  a  total  of 
112,761  acres  compared  Avith  109.214  acres  in  1921.  Kern,  Los  Angeles, 
and  Orange  counties  were  the  important  contributors  to  the  increase. 
Of  this  total,  17,322  acres  being  owned  by  federal,  state,  and  city 
governments  is  not  assessal)le  for  the  support  of  the  Department  of 
Petroleum  and  Gas  of  the  State  ^Mining  Bureau.  The  aereage  in  1922 
was  distributed  by  counties  as  foUows : 

TABLE  J.     Proved    Oil    Land. 

County  Land  (acres)       Wells  (No.) 

Fresno 

Kern   

Los  Angeles  

Orange    - 

San  Luis  Obispo.- 

Santa  Barbara 

Santa  Clara  — 

Ventura 

Totals    112,761  9,890 

The  Department's  method  of  classifying  proved  oil  land  has  been 
described  by  Collom.^ 

"The  proved  oil  and  gas  areas  in  the  State  of  California  are  determined  and 
mapped  each  year  by  the  engineering  staff  of  the  Department  of  Petroleum  and 
Gas  under  the  direction  of  the  supervisor.  The  purpose  is  to  determine  the  acreages 
that  yield,  or  are  capable  of  yielding,  oil  in  paying  quantities  so  that  the  owners 
thereof  may  be  assessed  for  their  pro  rata  of  the  tax  levied  for  the  support  of  the 
L>epartment. 

"The  procedure  for  determining  proved  oil  land  is  based  on  engineering  principles. 
A  definition'  of  proved  oil  hind,  as  determined  by  this  Department,  is  as  follows: 
'Proved  oil  land  is  that  land  which  is  determined,   by  the  records  of  oil 
produced  therefrom  supported  by  geologic  data,  to  be  capable  of  yielding 
oil  m  paying  quantities.' 

"It  is  thought  that  the  Department's  method  of  classifying  proved  oil  land  is  a 
conservative  one.  Undrilled  areas,  lying  between  producing  areas  and  lying  where 
correlative  geological  conditions  can  be  established  with  reasonable  certainty,  will 
show  a  greater  acreage  of  proved  oil  land  than  undrilled  areas  lying  beyond  the 
outer  limits  of  producing  areas.  In  some  cases,  under  the  latter  condition,  the 
boundary  line  for  proved  oil  land  is  drawn  only  one  well  location  away  from  the 
nearest  producing  well.  Boundaries  are  made  to  conform  with  the  lines  of  legal 
subdivisions  wherever  possible. 

"The  spacing  of  wells  varies  greatly  within  each  oil  field  and,  in  arriving  at  the 
average  allotted  acreage  per  well,  the  spacing  in  numerous  tracts  in  each  field  was 
determined,  weighed  by  the  acreages  involved,  and  averaged  for  the  field.  These 
field  averages,  therefore,  do  not  reflect  nor  emphasize  the  conditions  of  either  maxi- 
mum or  minimum  spacing  and.'  of  course,  the  accuracy  of  the  average  acreage  per 
well  drilled,  as  shown  in  Table  T,  depends  largely  upon  the  care  and  judgment 
exercised  in  determining  sample  spacings  of  various  tracts  in  each  field. 
•  •«**** 

"The  following  are  a  few  examples  of  the  variation  in  spacings  or  well  areas. 
In  the  North  Midway  field  the  well  areas  vary  from  2.2  acres  to  4.6  acres,  in  the 
Buena  Vista  hills  the  average  well  areas  are  9.5  acres  and  many  tracts  show  10 
acres  per  well.  On  the  Twentv-five  Hill  area  the  average  spacing  is  between  2.0  and 
2.5  acres  per  well.  The  spacing  of  wells  in  the  East  Side  Coalinga  field  varies  from 
3.0  to  10.0  acres  per  well,  and  on  the  "U'est  Side  from  4.2  to  8.0  acres  per  well. 
McKittrick  and  Kern  River  show  the  lowest  acreages  per  well  for  the  San  Joaquin 
A'alley  fields.  In  the  coast  fields  Lompoc  and  Santa  Maria  show  the  largest  acreages 
per  well.  In  several  of  the  larger  tracts  of  the  Santa  Maria  field  wells  are  spaced 
1100  feet  apart.  In  Ventura  County  the  Bardsdale  oil  field  shows  the  lowest 
acreage  per  well.  Long  Beach,  Santa  Fe  Springs  and  Huntington  Beach  oil  fields 
in  southern  California  show  average  acreages  which  obscure  the  minimum  acreages 
brought   about  by   town  lot   drilling.     For  example,   average   acreages  vary   at   Santa 

^Collom.  R.  E.,  California's  proved  oil  and  gas  fields:  Summary  of  Operations, 
Gal.    Oil   Fields,    Cal.    State   Min.   Bur.,   Vol.    S,   pp.    15-18.   Aug.,    1922. 

»Collom,  R.  E..  Proved  oil  land:  Cal.  State  Min.  Bur.,  Summary  of  Operations, 
California  Oil  Fields,  Vol.   7,   No.  2,  August,   1921,  pp.   5-9. 


40  MINERAL    INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 

Fe   Springs   from   1.5   to  S  acres  per  well.      Included  within  the   data   of  the  1.5   acre 
minimum  are  town  lot  tracts  in  which  locations  are  as  close  as  3  wells  per  acre. 

"In  estimating  the  average  acreages  per  well  in  any  field  as  a  whole,  the  spacing 
and  number  of  offset  locations  of  line  wells  causes  a  marked  reduction  in  the 
average  acreage  and  the  smaller  the  tracts  held  by  different  owners,  the  closer  and 
greater  in  number  will  be  the  offset  locations. 

"The  average  acreages  per  well  as  given  herein  are  smaller  than  indicated  on  a 
basis  of  total  proved  acreages  divided  by  the  number  of  producing  wells.  •  *  • 
Using  the  average  acreages  per  well  for  determining  total  developed  acreages,  and 
with  liberal  allowance  for  error,  the  data  show  that  there  is  a  large  amount  of 
acreage  still  undeveloped  within  the  proved  oil  and  gas  fields  of  California.  Further, 
it  is  the  writer's  opinion  that  some  interesting  and  encouraging  data,  as  to  the 
quantities  of  oil  still  recoverable  from  the  undeveloped  areas  alone,  could  be  drawn 
by  computations  based  on  records  of  past  productions  and  rates  of  decline  of  pro- 
duction in   the  areas  already  developed. 

"According  to  the  estimates  the  total  undrilled  area  amounts  to  54,214  acres  for 
the  present  proved  fields.  In  the  Midway-Sunset  fields  alone  the  proved  area  is 
46,301  acres,  of  which  19.135  acres  is  estimated  as  developed  and  therefore  27,166 
acres  as  undeveloped.  In  Kern  County  the  proved  area  is  6S,S66  acres.  This  includes 
15,360  acres  of  federal  lands"  of  which  approximately  2600  acres  can  be  classed  as 
developed. 

"In  the  coastal  fields,  including  those  of  Los  Angeles  and  Orange  counties,  there 
is  not  such  a  wide  margin  lietween  developed  and  undeveloped  areas  and,  although 
the  oil  fields  of  Southern  California  are  now  undergoing  intensive  development,  it 
appears  that  the  fields  of  Kern  County,  notably  Midway  and  Elk  Hills,  still  hold  a 
large  part  of  California's  petroleum  and  gas   reserve  for  the  future." 


'"In  the  computation  of  proved  oil  land  for  fixing  the  assessment  rate  for  taxation, 
the  quantity  of  proved  land  owned  by  the  United  States  Government  is  omitted  as  it 
is  not  taxable  by  the  state. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION.  41 

CHAPTER  THREE. 

METALS. 

The  total  value  of  metals  produced  in  California  during  1922  was 
$21,700,733.  The  chief  of  these  is,  and  always  has  been,  gold,  followed 
in  order  in  1922  by  silver,  copper,  lead,  quicksilver,  zinc,  platinum,  iron 
ore  and  manganese  ore.  There  was  no  production  of  antimony, 
cadmium,  molybdenum,  tin,  nor  tungsten,  whicli  have  in  the  past  been 
on  the  active  list.  Deposits  of  ores  of  nickel  and  vanadium  have  also 
been  found  in  the  state;  although  there  has  as  yet  been  no  commercial 
output  of  thoni.  The  aliove-noted  total  for  this  group  is  a  net  increase 
of  .i;-iS9.654  over  tlie  1921  total  of  $21,211,079,  due  mainly  to  increases 
registered  by  copper,  lead  and  zinc,  in  spite  of  decreases  by  gold  and 
silver. 

California  leads  all  states  in  the  l^nion  in  her  gold  production  and  is 
credited  with  approximately  30%  of  the  nation's  yield  in  1922.  The 
l)recious  metal  is  widely  distributed  throughout  the  state.  Thirty- 
one  of  the  fifty-eight  counties  reported  an  output  in  1922  from  either 
mines  or  dredges. 

Copper,  which  is  second  in  importance  among  the  metals  of  the 
state,  occurs  in  the  following  general  districts :  the  Shasta  County  belt, 
which  has  been  by  far  the  most  important ;  the  Coast  Range  deposits, 
extending  more  or  less  continuously  from  Del  Norte  in  the  north  to  San 
Luis  Obispo  County  in  the  south  ;  the  Sierra  Nevada  belt,  starting  in 
Plumas  and  running  in  a  general  southerly  and  southeasterly  direction 
through  the  INIother  Lode  counties  and  ending  in  Kern;  the  eastern 
belt  in  Mono  and  Inyo  counties;  and  the  southern  belt,  in  San 
Bernardino,  Riverside  and  San  Diego  counties. 

Silver  is  not  generally  found  alone  in  the  state,  except  notably  in  the 
new  Rand  district,  San  Bernardino  County ;  but  is  associated  to  a 
greater  or  less  extent  with  gold,  copper,  lead  and  zinc. 

Quicksilver  has  for  many  years  been  one  of  the  state's  staple  products 
and  California  has  supplied  ai)i)roximately  75%  of  the  nation's  output 
of  this  metal. 

Tungsten  is  found  in  but  few  othci-  localities  of  importance  in  the 
United  States. 

Large  deposits  of  iron  ore  have  l)ecn  known  in  several  sections  of  the. 
state,  but  for  various  economic  reasons  this  branch  of  the  mineral 
industiy  thus  far  has  made  only  slight  progress  on  the  Pacific  Coast. 


42 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


A  comparison  of  the  1922  metal  output  with  that  of  1921  is  afforded 
by  the  following  table : 


1921 


1922 


Amount 


Value 


Amount 


Value 


Increase+ 
De  crease- 
Value 


Copper    - 12,088,053  lbs. 

Gold   - 

Iron  ore  1,970  tons 

Lead 1,149,051  lbs. 

Manganese  ore 1,006  tons 

Platinum   613  fine  oz. 

Quicksilver    3,157  flasks 

Silver   

Zinc    846.1S4  lbs. 


$1,559,358      22,883,987  lbs. 

15,704,822 

12,030 

51,707 

12.210 

58,754 

H0,C66 

3,629.223 

42,309 


3,588  tons 
6,511,280  lbs. 
540  tons 
795  fine  oz. 

3,466  flasks 

3,034,430  lbs. 


$3,090,582 

14,670,346 

18,868 

35S,120 

7,650 

90,288 

191,851 

3,100,065 

172,963 


Total  values $21,211,079 

Net  increase  


$21,700,733 


$1,531,224+ 

1,034,476— 

6,838+ 

306,413+ 

4,590— 

31,534  + 

51,185+ 

529,158— 

130,654+ 


$489,654+ 


ALUMINUM. 

Bibliography:  Bulletins  38,  67.    U.  S.  G.  S.,  Min.  Res.  of  U.  S. 

To  date  there  has  been  no  commercial  production  of  aluminum  ore  in 
California.  The  first  authentic  find  of  bauxite  in  this  state  was  noted 
in  the  April,  1922,  issue  of  'Mining  in  California'  (see  Report  XVIII, 
page  198;  also  'Pacific  Mining  News.'  p.  13,  May,  1922).  It  is  in  Riv- 
ei-side  County,  southeast  of  Corona,  but  as  yet  undeveloped. 

^Minerals  containing  aluminum  are  abundant,  the  most  Avidel.v  dis- 
tributed being  the  clays.  There  are  only  two,  however,  thus  far  of 
consequence,  commercially,  in  the  production  of  the  metal :  bauxite  (to 
which  may  be  added  the  related,  hydrated  oxides,  hydrargillite  and 
diaspore),  and  cryolite.  Cryolite  is  found  in  commercial  quantities 
only  in  South  Greenland,  and  was  formerly  tiie  only  ore  of  aluminum 
used,  being  still  employed  as  a  flux  in  the  extraction  of  the  metal. 
Bauxite  has  been,  for  some  years,  the  most  important  source  of  alumi- 
num and  its  salts.  Its  color  varies  from  gray  to  red,  according  to  the 
amount  of  iron  present,  the  composition  ranging  usuallv  between  the 
following  limits:  ALO,.  30%-60%  ;  Fe^O,,  3^-25% :  SiO,,  0.5%-20%  ; 
TiO.,  0.0%-10%.  Besides  its  reduction  to  the  metal,  bauxite  is  also 
utilized  in  the  manufacture  of:  aluminum  salts,  refractory  bricks,  alun- 
dum  (fused  alumina)  for  use  as  an  abrasive;  and  in  the  refining  of 
oil  (stated  to  be  of  growing  importance).  The  most  important  pro- 
ducing countries,  both  of  bauxite  and  the  metal,  are  the  Ignited  States 
and  France,  the  former  yielding  more  than  60  per  cent  of  the  world's 
output.     In  1913  France  led. 

Because  of  its  light  weight  (2.58  specific  gravity),  the  metal,  alumi- 
num, has  many  important  industrial  uses,  particularly  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  aeroplanes,  airships,  automobiles,  cooking  utensils,  and  electrical 
apparatus.  The  use  of  aluminum  dust  in  place  of  zinc  dust  for  pre- 
cipitating precious  metal  from  cyanide  solutions  is  increasing.  In  the 
Thermit  process  of  welding  and  casting,  aluminum  in  fine  grains  or 
filings  is  mixed  with  the  oxide  (usually  iron  oxide)  to  be  reduced. 

Present  quotations  for  aluminum  are  25(*-27^  per  pound,  according 
to  grade,  for  the  refined  metal. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION. 


43 


ANTIMONY. 

BihJiocfraphy:   Stnto   :Vlin('ralooist   Reports  VITI,    X,    XIT,   XTTT. 
XIV,  XV,  XVII.     liullctiu  38. 

Prodiietioji  of  antimony  in  California  has  Ixmmi  irregular,  and  small 
in  amount  except  durini;  the  year  1916  when  the  hif^h  war-time  priees 
ix'i-iiiitted  Ameriean  pi-oduccrs.  for  a  short  ])eriod,  to  compete  with 
Chinese  antimony.  Tlie  jn-im-ipal  e-ommei-eial  i)rodii('tion  of  antimony 
in  California  has  come  from  Kern,  Inyo,  and  San  Benito  counties,  and 
other  occurrences  have  been  noted  in  Nevada,  Riverside,  and  Santa 
Clara  couiiti(\'<.  The  commonest  occurrence  is  in  the  form  of  the  sul- 
phide, stibnite ;  but  in  the  Kernville.  and  Ilavilah  districts  in  Kern 
County  there  were  notable  deposits  of  the  native  metal,  being  among 
the  few  localities  of  the  world  wlierc  native  antimony  has  been  found. 

California  producers  claim  that  they  can  not  operate  profitalily  unless 
the  price  of  antimony  l)e  above  12  cents  jxt  pound.  Present  New 
York  quotations  are  around  7  cents  per  pound. 

Pure  antimony  metal,  and  manufactured  antimony  compounds  are  of 
considerable  importance  as  pigments  in  the  ceramic  industry.  The 
most  important  use  of  the  metal,  commercially,  is  in  various  alloys, 
particnlarly  type-metal  (with  tin  and  lead),  babbitt  (with  tin  and 
copper),  and  britannia  metal  (with  tin  and  copper). 

The  production  of  antimony  in  California  by  years  since  1887  has  been 
as  follows: 


Year 

Tom 

Value 

Year 

Tom 

Value 

1887 

75 
100 

$15,500 
20,000 

1900    

70 
50 

$5,700 

1888  ... 
1889 

1901 

1902             

8,350 

1893  ... 

50 
150 
33 
17  ; 
20 
40 
75 

2.250 
6,000 
1.485 
2.320 
3,500 
1,200 
13,500 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

510 

1,015 

158 

35,666 

1894  ... 

1895  ... 
1896 

64,793 
18,786 

1RQ7 

Totals 

1898  ... 

1899  ... 

2,363 

$199,050 

ARSENIC. 
Bibliographij:  Pnllctin  (17.     T^.  S.  (i.  S.,  Min.  Res.  of  U.  S. 

Arsenic  is  found  in  a  num])er  of  localities  in  California  in  the  min- 
eral arsenopyrite  (FeAsS),  which  is  frequently  gold  ])earing;  and  in 
scorodite  (FeAsO^+2ILO).  an  oxidation  product  of  arsenopyrite.  The 
occurrence  of  realgar  (AsS)  has  also  been  noted  (see  Report  XVIII, 
page  197).  To  date,  there  has  been  no  commercial  output  of  arsenic 
from  California  ores.  The  principal  source  of  the  arsenic  of  commerce 
in  the  Ignited  States  has  been  a.s  a  l)y-i)rodiict  from  the  metallurgical 
treatment  of  copper,  gold,  and  lead  ores.  It  is  usually  recovered  in 
the  form  of  the  tri-oxide,  or  'white  arsenic,'  for  which  tliere  is  a  demand 
for  the  preparation  of  insecticides,  foi-  use  in  asrricnltiire  atul  horticul- 
ture, and  especially  against  Ihe  cotton-boll  weevil  in  the  southern  states. 


44  MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

BISMUTH. 

Bibliography:  Bulletins  38,  67.    Am.  Jour.  Sci.  1903,  Vol.  16. 

Several  bismuth  minerals  have  been  found  in  California,  notably 
native  bismuth  and  bismite  (the  ochre)  in  the  tourmaline  gem  district 
in  San  Diego  and  Riverside  counties  near  Pala.  Other  occurrences  of 
l)ismuth  minerals,  including  the  sulphide,  bismuthinite.  have  been  noted 
in  In^-o,  Fresno,  Nevada.  Tuolumne,  and  ^lono  counties,  but  only  in 
small  cjuantities.  The  only  commercial  production  recorded  was  20 
tons  valued  at  $2,400,  in  1904.  and  credited  to  Riverside  County. 

In  1917,  a  few  pounds  of  Ijisjnuthinite  (Bi^.S..)  with  associated  bis- 
nuitite  (BigCOj.H^O),  was  taken  out  at  the  United  Tungsten  Copper 
Mine,  in  the  Morongo  district,  San  Bernardino  County.  It  is  associated 
with  scheelite  in  a  contact  deposit  between  limestone  and  granite. 

Recovery  of  bismuth  from  blister  copper  in  the  electrolytic  refinery 
has  been  noted, ^  ranging  as  high  as  27.3  pounds  of  metallic  bismuth 
per  100  tons  of  blister  copper  from  the  Iron  Mountain,  Shasta  County, 
ores.  In  the  United  States,  the  principal  recovery  of  bismuth  is 
obtained  as  a  by-product  from  the  refining  of  lead  bullion. 

The  uses  of  bismuth  are  somewhat  restricted,  being  employed  princi- 
palty  in  the  preparation  of  medicinal  salts,  and  in  low  melting-point 
or  cliche  alloys.  These  alloys  are  utilized  in  automatic  fire  sprinkler 
systems,  in  electrical  fuses,  and  in  solders. 

Present  quotations  for  bismuth  are  $2.55  per  pound  for  the  refined 
metal. 

CADMIUM. 

Bihliographij :  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Min.  Res.  of  U.  S.,  1908,  1918. 

During  1917  and  1918.  cadmium  metal  was  recovered  by  the  elec- 
trolytic zinc  plant  of  the  ]\Iammoth  Copper  Company  in  Shasta  County. 
It  was  shipped  in  the  form  of  'sticks'  and  amounted  to  a  total  of 
several  thousand  pounds  for  the  two  j'ears,  the  exact  figures  being 
concealed  under  'Unapportioned.'  That  was  the  first,  and  thus  far 
the  only,  commercial  production  of  cadmium  recorded  from  Cali- 
fornia ore.  Cadmium  there  occurs  associated  with  zinc  sulphide, 
sphalerite,  probably  as  the  sulphide,  greenockite.  Cadmium  also  occurs 
in  the  Cerro  Gordo  JMine,  Inyo  County,  associated  with  smithsonite 
(zinc  carbonate). 

There  are  several  cadmium  minerals,  but  none  of  them  occur  in 
sufficient  quantities  individually  to  be  profitable  as  distinct  ores.  The 
cadmium  of  commerce  is  derived  as  a  by-product  in  the  reduction  of 
zinc  minerals  and  ores,  in  nearly  all  of  which  it  occurs  in  at  least  minute 
proportions,  the  average  ratio  lieing  about  1  of  cadmium  to  200  of  zinc. 
As  cadmium  behaves  metallurgically  much  the  same  as  zinc,  it  con- 
stitutes a  fraction  of  1  per  cent  of  nearly  all  metallic  zinc. 

Cadmium  is  produced  in  United  States  in  two  forms — metallic 
cadmium  and  the  pigment,  cadmium  sulphide.  The  principal  use  of 
the  metal  is  in  low-melting  point,  or  cliche  alloys,  and  its  salts  are 
utilized  in  the  arts,  medicine,  and  in  electroplating.  The  sulphide  is 
employed  as  a  paint  pigment,  being  a  strong  yellow,  which  is  unaffected 

^Trans.  Am.   Inst.   Min.  Eng.,  Vol.   47,  pp.   217-218. 


STATISTICS   OK    ANNUAIi   PKODUCTION.  45 

by  hydrojren  sulpliido  j^as  from  ooal  sinoko.  Tt  is  also  employed  in 
coloring  {jlass  and  poivelain.  Cadniiuni  cliche  metal  is  stated  to  be 
superior  to  the  correspondintr  bismuth  alloy,  for  making  stereotype 
plates.  Cadmium  is  also  used  in  bronze  telegraph  and  telephone  wires, 
and  gives  some  ])roiiiise  of  hciiig  utilized  in  electroi)lating. 

Present  (piotalinns  for  cadmium  are  $1.15  pci-  pound  Joi-  the  rc(iiie(l 
metal. 

COBALT. 

BihlinffrapJnf.  Report  XIV.     bulletin  67.     U.  S.  G.  S.,  IMin.  Res. 
of  U.  «.,  1912,  1918. 

Occurrences  of  some  of  the  cobalt  minerals  have  been  noted  in 
several  localities  in  California,  but  to  date  no  commercial  deposits  have 
been  developed.  Some  of  the  copper  ores  of  tlie  foothill  copper  belt 
in  Mariposa  and  .Madera  counties  have  been  found  to  contain  cobalt 
up  to  3%. 

The  most  important  use  of  cobalt  is  in  the  manufacture  of  the  alloy, 
stellite.  in  which  it  is  combiiied  with  chromium,  for  making  high-speed 
lathe  tools,  and  non-tarnishing  cutlery  and  surgeons'  appliances.  The 
metal  is  also  used  in  electroplating,  similarly  to  nickel;  and  the  oxide, 
carbonate,  chloride,  sulphate  and  other  salts  are  used  in  ceramics  for 
coloring.  Some  of  the  organic  salts  of  cobalt  (acetate,  resinate,  oleate) 
are  employed  as  'driers'  in  paint  and  varnish. 

Present  ciuotations  for  cobalt  are  $2.65-$2.85  per  pound  for  the 
refined  metal. 

COPPER. 

Bihliofiraphj/:    State    :\Iiiu'ralogist    Reports    YIIT-XVIII    (inc.). 
Bulletins  23,  50,  91. 

Copper  is  second  only  to  gold,  among  the  metals  produced  in  Cali- 
fornia. For  many  years  Shasta  was  the  leading  county  in  the  output 
of  tile  red  metal,  hut  in  191!)  Plumas  advanced  to  lii-st  place,  which  it 
has  since  retained.  This  was  due  to  the  maintenance  of  output  level  by 
the  Engels  property  in  Plumas  County  and  to  the  shutting  down  of  the 
]\lanun()th,  ^lountain  and  Afterthought  groups  in  Shasta  County.  The 
increase  in  1922  is  due  to  the  return  of  the  Walker  ]\line,  Plumas 
County,  to  the  producing  column.  Both  the  p]ngels  and  Walker  ores 
are  treated  by  flotation  and  the  concentrate  shipped  to  Utah  plants  for 
smelting.  The  fact  that  the  Engels  ore  carries  apprecial)le  values  in 
gold  and  silver  has  been  an  important  factor  in  the  company's  main- 
tenance of  operations  during  this  period  that  practically  all  other 
copper  mines  in  the  state  have  been  closed.  A  small  yield  of  copper  in 
1922  was  also  report(^d  fi-om  Tuyo.  San  Bernardino,  Placer,  Trinity, 
and  ]\[ono  counties. 

Although  the  copper  property  of  the  Mountain  Copper  Company  was 
nonproductive  in  1921-1922,  a  part  of  the  copper  credited  to  Shasta 
County  the  pa.st  two  years  was  obtained  as  a  by-product  from  pyrites 
which  had  been  sold  and  utilized  in  the  manufacture  of  sulphuric  acid, 
after  which  the  cinder  was  smelted  at  other  plants.  Some  copper  was 
also  obtained  from  nuitte  made  by  the  Shasta  Zinc  and  Copper  Com- 
pany at  Winthrop  (Bully  Hill)  in  tiieir  reverberatory  operations  for 
the  production  of  zinc  oxide. 


46 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA 


The  State's  total  for  1922  amounted  to  22,883,987  pounds,  valued  at 
!i<3,090,582,  ])einsr  practically  double  the  1921  figures  of  12,088,053 
pounds,  and  .'|il,r)59,358.  The  average  price  in  1922  was  13.5^  as  against 
12.9^  in  1921,  and  18.4^  in  1920;  and  was  approximately  equal  to  the 
pre-war  price  of  13.3^  of  the  year  1913.  The  high-level  year  was  1917 
with  an  average  of  27.3^.  With  the  notable  exception  of  the  Engels 
group  in  Plumas  County  (and  in  1922,  the  Walker),  all  of  California's 
important  copper  producers  have  been  elo.sed  down  since  the  middle  of 
the  year  1919.  owing  to  the  unfavorable  market,  a  condition  which  has 
been  world-wide. 

Distribution  of  the  1922  copper  output,  by  counties,  was  as  follows: 


County 


Pounds 


Value 


Inyo    

Mono  

Plumas    

San  Bernardino 

Shasta  

Calaveras,  Kern,  Nevada,  Ti'inity* 

Totals— - 


69,537 

$9,388 

4,338 

•m 

20,677,771 

2,791,499 

13,452 

1,816 

1,827,875 

246,763 

291,014 

40,530 

22,883,987 

$3,090,582 

*Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 


Copper  Production   of  California,  by  Years. 

Amount  and  value  of  copper  produeton  in  California  annually  since 
such  records  have  been  compiled  by  the  State  ^Mining  Bureau  is  given 
in  the  following  tabulation : 


Tear 

Pounds 

Value 

Year 

Pounds             Value 

1887 

1,600,000 

1,570,021 

151,505 

23,347 

3,397,455 

2,980,944 

239,682 

738,594 

225,650 

1,992,844 

13,638,626 

21,543,229 

23.915,486 

29,515,512 

.^4  931  788 

$192,000 

235,303 

18,180 

3,502 

424,675 

342,808 

21,571 

72,486 

21,901 

199,519 

1,540,666 

2,475,168 

3,990,534 

4,748,242 

n  ani  7flo 

1906     -. 

28,726,448  '      $5,522,712 

1888 

1889 

1890 

1891 

1892 

1893 

1894 

1895 

1896 

1897 

1898 

1899 

1900 

1901 

1907 

1908 

1909 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915. 

1916 

1917 

1918 

1919 

1920     „    __ 

32,602,945          6,341,387 
40,868,772          5,350,777 
65.727,736          8.478,142 
53,721,032          6.680,641 
36,838,024          4.604,753 
34,169,997          5.638,049 
34,471,118          5,343,023 
80,491.535          4,055,375 
40,968,966          7,169.567 
55,809,019        13,729,017 
48,534,611        13,249,948 
47,793,046        11,805,883 
22,162.605          4.122.246 
12,947,299          2,382,303 

1902 

27.860,162          3,239,975 
19,113,861          2.520,997 

1921 

12,088,053  1       1,559,358 

1903 

1922 

22,883,987          3,090,582 

Totals 

1904 

1905 

29.974.154 
16,997,489 

3,969,995 
2,650,605 

851,215,542     $141,293,672 

•Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


47 


GOLD. 


liihlionrdpln/ :  Stjitc  ^liiicijiloiuisr   liopoi-fs  T  to  XJX    (inc.") 
letiiis  :{<;.  4.").  57.  !)1.     V.  S.  (Icoi.  Siirv..  Pn.f.  Paper  7:1 


lliil- 


(!old  was  tlip  first  and,  foi-  many  years,  the  most  important  single 
mineral  jiroduet  of  California.  'Althonirh  now  sni'i)assed  for  a  lunnher 
1)1"  years  in  annual  value  by  jx'troleum,  and  by  cement  during  the  past 
three  years,  it  still  heads  our  metal  list,  and  California  continues  to  out- 
raidv  all  the  other  gold-j)roduein<r  states  of  the  United  States,  including 
Alaska.  In  fact  for  li)22.  Califoruia  produced  one-third  of  the  i^old 
iiiiiu'd  in  the  entire  I'liited  States. 


Headframe   and   timber  yard   at   the   Empire   Mine,    Grass  Valley,    Nevada  County. 
One  of  the  important  gold  producers  of  California. 

The  increases  in  costs  of  all  supplies,  labor,  and  transportation 
beginning  in  1915  made  it  increasingly  difficult  in  the  period  following 
for  tlu>  gold  miuei"  to  operate  at  a  profit.  .Many  mines  were  forced  to 
close  down,  and  the  gold  output  of  not  oidy  California,  but  of  the  other 
western  gold  states,  decreased  greatly.  Economic  conditions  are  iu)w 
slowly  improving,  and  gold  production  will  no  doubt  soon  again  strike 
an  upward  trend.  Tlie  1922  figui'cs  show  a  decrease  from  the  1921 
yield.  The  continued  shut-down  (»f  all  but  two  of  the  large  coi)per 
properties,  which  have  always  been  important  producers  of  by-product 
gold  and  silver,  has  also  been  an  important  factor. 

Outlook  for  1923. 

According  to  the  mid-year  review  of  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey'^  for 
the  first  six  months  of  1923, 


'U.  S.  Geol.  Surv.,  Pre.ss  Bulletin  July  15,   1923. 


48 


MiNEKAf.    INDUSTRY    OK    CALIFORNIA. 


"mining  in  California  durine:  tlie  first  half  of  1923  has  been  greatly  handicapped 
by  lack  of  efficient  labor  and  by  a  very  large  labor  turnover.  Considerable  develop- 
ment and  prospecting  work  have  been  done  during  the  first  six  months  of  the  year 
in  different  parts  of  the  State,  particularly  in  the  gold  districts.  Most  of  the  larger 
gold  mines  .are  operating  about  as  they  were  in  1922,  and  a  few  new  gold  producers  have 
started  production.  The  silver  mines  have  been  worked  to  their  full  capacity  thus 
far  in  1923,  but  some  curtailment  of  activity  in  silver  mining  took  place  in  June. 
With  the  resumption  of  open-market  prices  for  silver  it  may  be  expected  that  the 
I)roduction  of  that  metal  will  bo  further  reduced.  The  Engels  and  Walker  mines 
have  been  operating  at  full  capacity,  and  st^ps  have  been  taken  to  increase  the 
output  at  both  properties.  It  is  reported  that  the  copper  mines  in  Shasta  County 
and  the  Calaveras  Copper  Co.  may  reopen  in  the  near  future. 

*  U:  *  *  ±  *  * 

"Tlie  output  of  both  gold  and  silver  during  the  first  half  of  1923  did  not  come  up 
to  that  during  the  corresponding  period,  in  1922,  but  the  increase  in  production  by 
copper  and  lead  mines  will  probably  offset  the  decrease  of  silver  from  the  silver 
mines,  so  that  the  output  for  1923  will  probably  about  equal  that  for  1922,  which  was 
valued  at   $21,625,600." 

Production   in   1922. 

The  State  Mining  Bureau  has  never  independently  collected  statistics 
of  gold  and  silver  production,  as  there  is  no  necessity  for  duplicating 
the  very  thoroughly  organized  work  of  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey 
covering  those  metals.  The  data  here  given  relative  to  these  two  metals 
have  been  received  through  the  courtesy  and  cooperation  of  i\[r.  J.  M. 
Hill,  Statistician  in  Charge  of  the  San  Francisco  branch  office  of  the 
Division  of  ]\Iineral  Resources.  Anyone  wishing  fuller  details  of  the 
production  of  these  metals  may  obtain  the  same  by  applying  to  the 
U.  S.  Geological  Survey,  Washington,  D.  C,  or  to  room  305,  U.  S. 
Custom  House,  San  Francisco,  California,  for  a  copy  of  the  'separate' 
on  the  subject. 

The  gold  production  of  California  for  1922  was  distributed,  by 
counties,  as  follows: 


County 


Amador  .. 

Butte    

Calaveras 
El  Dorado 

Fresno   

Humboldt 
Imperial  _- 

Inyo 

Kem 

Madera    -- 
Mariposa  - 

Mono 

Nevada  -— 
Placer  


Value 


$2,241,100 

491,201 

1,413,465 

47,340 

10,442 

1,330 

350 

^,265 

124,337 

1,594 

218,571 

65,747 

2,903,573 

119,673 


County 


Value 


Plumas    I  $223,025 

Sacramento 1,350,749 

San  Bernardino 125,728 

Sha.sta    - - -_  393,034 

Sierra    I  1,753,242 

Siskiyou 75,105 

Trinity  182,918 

Tuolumne  -- 222,366 

Yuba  2,492,948 

Colusa,  Del  Norte,  Lassen,  Los  An- 
geles, Orange,  San  Diego,  Merced, 

Stanislaus*    — -  127,243 

Total  value -- $14,670,346 


•Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 


The  following  is  quoted  from  the  advance  chapter  on  Gold  in  1922, 
by  courtesy  of  :Mr.  J.  M.  Hill  of  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey : 


"The  gold 
$14,670,346,  a 
vield  of  1'921. 


production  of  California  in  1922  was  709,677.98  ounces,  valued  at 
decrease  of  50,042.78  ounces,  or  $1,034,476,  as  compared  with  the  gold 
In  1922  deep  mines  produced  62.51  per  cent  and  placer  mines  37.49  per 
cent  of  the  gold  output.  In  1921  the  relation  was  deep  mines  4  8  per  cent  and  placers 
52  per  cent,  whereas  in  1920  deep  mines  produced  51  per  cent  and  placer  mines  49  per 
cent  of  the  gold  output.  The  2  82  placer  mines  operated  in  California  In  1922,  for  the 
most  part,  were  relatively  small  operations.  Aside  from  the  dredges  there  were  only 
2  placer  mines,  both  drift,  at  which  over  $20,000  in  gold  was  recovered. 

"The  placer  gold  yield  in  1922  was  266,055.50  ounces,  valued  at  $5,499,855.  which 
is  $2,654,969  less  than  the  value  of  gold  produced  at  placer  mines  in  1921.  Dredges 
produced  91  per  cent,  drift  mines  5  per  cent,  hydraulic  mines  3  per  cent,  and  surface 
placers  1  per  cent  of  the  total  yield  of  gold  from  placers  in  1922.  During  the  year 
there  were  35  dredges,  63  drift,  60  hydraulic,  and  124  surface  placers  at  which  gold 
was  produced.     Dredges  in  1922  produced  $2,757,572  less  gold  than  in  1921,  the  greater 


j 


STATISTICS   t»F    ANMAh    I'KODUCTION.  40 

part  of  the  loss  beiny  from  tlio  Yuba  River  fi«'kl  in  Yiil)a  County,  though  tho  drtdges 
in  Amador,  Calaveras,  Phu-er,  Sacramento,  and  Trinity  counties  all  saved  smaller 
<iuantitie.s  of  gold  than  in  1921.  The  dredges  in  Butte,  Stanislaus,  and  Shasta  counties 
saved  more  gold  in  lyjJ  than  in  the  previous  year. 

"Gold  produced  at  drift  mines  in  1922  was  $125,215  greater  than  in  1921,  the  prin- 
cipal increase  being  from  drift  mines  in  Plumas,  Sierra.  Butte,  and  Calaveras  counties. 
There  was  a  decrease  of  $4,533  in  the  gold  yield  from  hydraulic  mines  in  1922.  as 
compared  with  1921.  Hydraulic  mines  in  Trinity  and  Siskiyou  were  not  so  productive 
as  in  1921,  but  in  Amador,  Calaveras,  Nevada.  Pluma.*!,  and  Sierra  counties  there 
were  increased  yields  from  hydraulic  mines.  Tlie  production  of  gold  from  surface 
mines  in  1922  was  $1S.0"9  less  than  in  1921.  The  output  from  this  source  varies 
considerably  from  year  to  year,  depending  largely  on  labor  conditions. 

"The  production  of  gold  from  deep  mines  in  1922  was  4  13,622.48  ounces,  valued  at 
$9,170,491,  an  increase  of  $1,620,493,  as  compared  with  the  yield  of  gold  from  deep 
mines  in  1921.  Of  the  283  deep  mines,  which  produced  gold  in  1922,  at  only  31  was 
the  yield  of  gold  valued  at  more  than  $20,000  and  at  only  7  more  than  $.400,000.  At 
4  deep  mines  gold  was  produced  in  excess  of  $1,000,000.  Nevada  County  was  first, 
closely  followed  by  Amador,  in  gold  yield  from  deep  mines ;  in  the  former  countv  the 
value  of  the  gold  produced  was  over  $2,800,000  and  in  the  latter  county  over  $2,200,000. 
Sierra  County  with  a  yield  of  over  $1,700,000  from  deep  mines  was  third  in  rank  in 
1922.  and  Calaveras  County  deep  mines  were  fourth,  with  a  production  of  over 
$1,200,000.  The  next  nearest  competitors  were  Mariposa  with  $214,000.  and  Tuolumne 
with  $212,000.  There  were  material  increases  in  the  output  of  gold  produced  at  deep 
mines  in  Amador,  Mono,  Nevada,  Plumas.  Shasta,  Sierra,  Siskiyou,  and  Tuolumne 
counties,  but  the  most  noteworthy  gain  was  from  the  deep  mines  of  tho  Alleghany 
district  in  Sierra  County.  The  Nevada  City-Grass  Valle.v  mines  were  more  productive 
than  in  1921,  and  the  output  of  gold  from  Jackson,  Amador  County,  was  not  reduced 
in  spite  of  the  fire  at  the  Argonaut  mine. 

"The  dry  gold  ores  mined  in  1922,  a  total  of  984.785  tons,  yielded  97  per  cent  of 
the  gold  produced  at  deep  mines  and  61  per  cent  of  the  total  gold  produced  at  both 
deep  and  placer  mines.  Dry  silver  and  copper  ores  each  carried  about  1.5  per  cent  of 
the  gold  from  deep  mines.  Bullion  made  at  gold  and  silver  mills  carried  84  per  cent, 
concentmtes  made  at  all  classes  of  mills  14  per  cent,  and  smelting  ore  2  per  cent  of 
the  total  gold  produced  by  deep  mines  in  1922." 

Total   Gold    Production  of  California. 

The  following  table  was  originally  compiled  by  Clias.  G.  Yale,  of  the 
7')ivision  of  [Mineral  Resourees.  U.  S.  Geological  Survey.  ])ut  for  a  num- 
ber of  year.s  .statistician  of  the  California  State  Alining  ]5nreau  and  the 
IT.  S.  Mint  at  San  Francisco.  The  authorities  chosen  for  certain  periods 
were:  J.  D.  AVhitney,  state  geologist  of  California;  John  Arthur 
Phillips,  author  of  "^Mining  and  ^Metallurgy  of  (Jold  and  Silver" 
(1867);  V.  S.  Mining  Commissioner  R.  AY.  Raymond;  V.  S.  ^Mining 
Commissioner  J.  Ross  Browne ;  Wm.  P.  Blake,  Commissioner  from  Cali- 
fornia to  the  Paris  Exposition,  where  he  made  a  report  on  "Precious 
Metals''  flS(i7):  John  J.  ^^llentine.  author  for  many  years  of  the 
annual  report  on  precious  metals  j)iil)lislied  by  Wells.  Fargo  &  Com- 
pany's Express;  and  Louis  A.  Garnett,  in  the  early  days  manager  of 
the  San  Francisco  reHnerv,  where  records  of  gold  receipts  and  ship- 
ments were  kept.  Mr.  ^'ale  obtained  other  data  from  the  rei)orts  of 
the  director  of  the  \' .  S.  Mint  and  the  director  of  the  U.  S.  Geological 
Survey.  The  authorities  referred  to,  who  were  alive  at  the  time  of  the 
original  compilation  of  this  tal)le  in  1894.  were  all  consulted  in  person 
or  by  letter  by  ]Mr.  Yale  with  reference  to  the  correctness  of  their 
published  data,  and  the  final  table  quoted  was  then  made  up. 


;S547 


50 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY   OP    CALIFORNIA. 


The  figures  since  1904  are  those  prepared  by  the  U.  S.  Geological 
Surve}^ : 


TcMir 


Value 


Tear 


1848  

$245,301 
10.151.360 
41.273,106 
75,938,232 
81,294,700 
67,613,487 
69,433,931 
55,485,395 
57,509.411 
43,628,172 
46,591,140 
45,846,599 
44,095,163 
41,884.995 
38,854,668 
23,501.736 
24,071.423 
17.930,858 
17,123,867 
18,265,452 
17,555,867 
18,229,044 
17,458,133 
17,477.885 
15,482,194 
15,019,210 
17,264,836 
16,876,009 
15.610.723 
16,501.268 
18,839,141 
19,626,654 
20,030,761  1 
19.223,155 
17.146.416 
24,316,873 
13,600,000 
12.661,044  j 

1849  - 

1850  - 

1851 

1852 

1853  

1854  : — . 

1855  

1856  

1857  

1858  

1859  

1860  

1861 

1863 

1864  

1865 

1867  

1868 

1869  

1870  

1871  

1872  

1873  

1874 _,. 

1875 

1877 

1878  

1879  

1880 

1881 

1882  

1883  

1884  ..  .- 

1885  

1886 

1887 

1888 

1889 

1890 

1891 

1892 

1893 

1894 

1895 

1896 

1897 

1898 

1899 

1900 

1901 

1902 

1903 

1904 

1905 

1906 

1907 

1908 

1909 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918  , 

1919 

1920 

1921  , 

1922  . 


Value 


$14,716,506 
13,588.614 
12.750.000 
11,212.913 
12,309,793 
12,728,869 
12,571.900 
12.422.811 
13.923.281 
15,334,317 
17,181,562 
15,871,401 
15,906,478 
15.336,031 
15.863,355 
16,989,044 
16.910.320 
16,471.264 
19.109.600 
19.197.043 
18,732.452 
16.727.928 
18.761,559 
20,237.870 
19,715.440 
19,738,908 
19,713,478 
20,406,958 
20.653,496 
22,442,296 
21,410.741 
20.087,504 
16,529,162 
16,695,955 
14,311,043 
15,704.822 
14,670,346 


Total $1,750,593,269 


IRIDIUM    (see    under    Platinum). 
IRON   ORE. 

Bihliography :  State  Mineralogist  Reports  II,  IV,  V,  X,  XII,  XIII, 
XIV,  XV,  XVII,  XVIII.  Bulletins  38,  67,  91.  Am.  Inst.  Min. 
Eng.,  Trans.  LIII.  Min.  &  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  U5,  pp.  112,  117-122; 
Vol.  123,  pp.  94-96,  113-114. 

Iron  ore  to  the  amount  of  3588  tons,  valued  at  .$18,868,  was  produced 
in  California  during  the  year  1922,  and  utilized  for  foundry  flux  and 
in  steel  refining  at  open-hearth  j^lants.  There  is  also  some  tonnage 
utilized  in  the  manufacture  of  paint  pigment,  and  which  is  credited  to 
'mineral  paint'  in  those  statistical  reports.  This  1922  yield  is  an 
increase  over  the  1970  tons  and  $12,030  of  1921. 

There  are  consideral)le  deposits  of  iron  ore  known  in  California, 
notably  in  Shasta,  Madera,  Placer,  Riverside  and  San  Bernardino  coun- 


STATISTTfS   OF    ANNFAIi    l^RODUCTrOX. 


51 


tics,  l)ut  prcKluction  lias  so  far  hcoii  liniitcd  lor  lac-k  of  an  economic 
supply  of  cokin.o  coal.  This  niissiiii?  link  bids  fair  to  be  supplied  in  the 
near  future  (see  under  Coal).  Some  pig-iron  has  been  made,  util- 
izing charcoal  for  fuel,  both  in  blast  furnaces  and  by  electrical  reduc- 
tion. Further  deveh)piHents  along  the  line  of  electrical  .smelting,  or 
discoveries  making  available  our  petroleum  fuel,  for  iron  reduction, 
would  lead  to  considerable  increase  of  iron  mining  in  California.  For 
the  present,  at  least,  the  most  feasibh*  possibilities  would  seem  to  lie  in 
utilizing  our  iron  resources  in  the  preparation  of  tiie  various  alloys  such 
as  ferro-chrome,  ferro-manganese,  ferro-molybdenum,  ferro-silicon  and 
ferro-tungsten,  by  means  of  the  electric  furnace.  California  possesses 
commercial  deposits  of  ores  of  all  the  metals  just  enumerated. 

The  subject  of  establishing  an  iron  industry  on  the  I'acific  Coa.st  was 
dealt  with  somewhat  in  detail  in  the  1921  statistical  report  of  the  State 
iMining  Bureau  (see  'Mining  in  California,'  April  1922,  pp.  188-190). 


Total    Iron   Ore   Production   of  California. 


Total  iron  ore  production  in  California,  with  annual  amounts  and 
values,  is  as  follows : 


Tear                        Tons           Value 

Tear 

Tons           Value 

1881* 9.273       $79,452 

1882 2,073         17,766 

1883 11.191        106,540 

1911  

1912 

1913  ..      . 

558 
2,  .508 
2,313 

$558 
2,508 
4  48.'> 

1884 

4,532  ,       40,983 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1,436           5,'i28 
724           2  5&4 

1885 ... 

1886 . 

3,676         19,250 

3,000           6  000 

1887 

2,874         11  496 

1893 

250  :        2,000 
200  1        1,500 

1918 

1919 

1920 

1921  

1922 

Totals 

3108         15  947 

1894 

2  300         13  796 

1895 .. 

5  975         40  889 

1907 

1908  .. 

400             400 

1,970          12,0.30 
3,588         18,868 

190()                                                 1                1A«                   17J   ! 

1910 

579             900 

62,646      $503,254 

•Productions  for  the  year  1881-1886  (inc.')  were  reported  as  "tons  of  pig  iron"  (U.  S.  G.  S.. 
Min.  Rps.  1885),  and  for  the  tabl9  herewith  are  calculated  to  "tons  of  ore"  on  the  basis  of 
47.6%  Fe  as  shown  by  an  average  of  analyses  of  the  ores  (State  Mineralogist  Report  rV,  p.  242). 
This  early  production  of  pig  iron  was  from  the  blast  furnaces  then  in  operation  at  Hotaling  in 
Placer  County.  Charcoal  was  used  in  lieu  of  coke.  Though  producing  a  superior  grade  oi 
metal,  they  were  obliged  finally  to  close  down,  as  they  could  not  compete  with  the  cheaper 
English  and  eastern  United  States  iron  brought  in  by  sea  to  San  Francisco. 


LEAD. 


Bihliograplnj :   State   ^Mineralogist   Reports   IV.    VITT-XV    (inc), 
XVII,  XVIII. 


Lead  production  in  California  in  1922  increased  to  nearly  .six  times 
that  of  the  i)receding  year,  but  was  still  below  the  record  yield  of  the 
years  1916-1918.  The  principal  output  was  from  lead-silver  ores  from 
Inyo  County,  with  smaller  amounts  from  Shasta.  ]\Iono  and  San 
Bernardino  counties.  The  average  price  of  the  year  was  5.5^  per  pound 
as  compared  with  4.5^  in  1921,  ;}.9f  in  191.3,  and  the  high-level 
average  of  8.7^r  per  pound  in  1917. 


52  MINKUAIi    INDUSTUY    OF    (JALIKOltNIA. 

The  1922  production  was  distributed  by  counties,  as  follows: 


County 


Pounds         Value 


Inyo  6,264,138  '  $344,528 

Mono   9,820  540 

San  Bernardino  11,188  615 

Imperial,  Korn,  Nevada,  Orange,  and  Shasta* 226,134  12,437 

Totals 6,511,280       $358,120 

•Combined  to  eoneeal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 
Lead   Production  of  California,  by  Years. 

Statistics  on  lead  production  in  California  were  first  compiled  by 
this  Bureau  in  1887.  Amount  and  value  of  the  output,  annually,  witli 
total  figures,  to  date,  are  given  in  the  following  table : 


Tear 


1887 
1888 
1889 
1890 
1891 
1892 
1893 
1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 


Pounds 


Value 


1,160,000 

900,000 

940,000 

800.000 

1,140,000 

1,360,000 

666,000 

950,000 

1,592.400 

1,293.500 

596,000 

655,000 

721.000 

1,040,000 

720,500 

349,440 

110,000 

124,000 

533.680 


$62,200 
38,250 
35,720 
36,000 
49,020 
54,400 
24,975 
28,500 
49,364 
38.805 
20,264 
23,907 
30,642 
41,600 
28  820 
12,2.30 
3.960 
5.270 
25,083 


Tear 


Pounds 


19C6 338,718 

1907 ;  328.681 

1908 1.124.483 

1909 2.685,477 

1910 3,016,902 

1911 1,403,839 

1912 1,370,067 

1913 3.640,951 

1914 4.697.400 

1915  -      4.796,299 

1916        I  12,392.031 

1917      21.651,352 

1918          1.3.464,869 

1919          4.139.562 

1920  --  4.903,738 

1921      1,149,051 

1922 6.511.280 


Value 


$19,307 

16,690 

46.66  i 

144.897 

134.082 

63.1i3 

61,653 

160.202 

183,198 

22.5,426 

85.5,019 

1.862.016 

956.006 

219.397 

392.300 

.51.707 

358.120 


Totals 103,266.220      $6,348,896 


MANGANESE. 


BibUoqrapJiij:  State  ^Mineralogist  Reports  XII,  XIIT.  XIV 
XVIII.     iiulletins  38,  (57,  76,  91.     U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  427. 


XV 


By  far  the  greater  tonnage  of  manganese  ore  is  utilized  in  the  prep- 
aration of  ferro-manganese  and  employed  in  the  steel  industry  both 
for  its  metal  content  and  to  slag  off  certain  impurities  during  the  open- 
hearth  treatment.  Though  its  other  uses  may  be  classed  as  'chemical,' 
the  tonnage  thus  consumed  is  relatively  smaller.  Its  chemical  uses  are 
as  a  decolorizer  or  oxidizer  in  glass  manufacture,  and  as  a  constituent 
in  electric  dry  batteries.  In  the  paint  trade,  the  black  dioxide  is  used 
as  a  drier  in  varni.sh.  One  of  the  newer  uses  of  these  black,  oxide  ores 
of  manganese  is  in  the  manufacture  of  pressed  and  fancy  brick,  in  the 
compo.sition  of  which  it  is  mixed  in  powdered  form  to  deepen  the  color. 

The  chemical  uses  require  a  much  liigher  grade  of  manganese  ore 
than  the  steel  industry.  In  making  ferro-manganese,  carbonate  ore  can 
be  utilized  as  well  as  tlie  oxides ;  l)ut  for  chemical  purposes  the  dioxide 
is   the  important   constituent.     For   steel   i:»urposes   an   iron  content 


STATISTICS   OF    ANN'IAI.    I'Ki  tDICTIOK.  53 

is  acceptahlt*,  l)ut  niani,'rnu'S(>  sliould  oxeeod  4(1','.  Silica  sliduld  be 
under  89r,  though  higlici-  was  taken  during  the  war  period.  IMios- 
phorus  shouhl  ho  under  O.l^O' ; .  For  electric  dry  crlls,  ihc  iron  content 
should  he  under  1.5';  FeoO..,  and  Si(^_  under  6'v.  For  glassnuiking 
the  inaniranese  sliould  he  practically  free  of  iron.  On  account  of  the 
hiuli  pi-iees  prevailing  for  manganese  during  liM.l-lDlS.  selenium 
replaced  nuinganese  dioxide  in  glass  factories;  and  it  is  stated  to  have 
lieen  so  successful  that  its  use  continues. 

Though  the  impoi-ts  of  nuinganese  ore  from  the  Caucasus  District  in 
Russia  were  reduced  by  the  war  to  practically  nothing,  the  I'nited 
States  received  iniix)rtant  shij^ments  from  Brazil,  India  and  Cuba;  so 
that  the  total  im])nrts  for  1916  were  ]n-acticall>'  doul)le  those  of  either 
1!)14  or  1015.  The  191  (i  figurt^s  were  57t),:}21  long  tons,  valued  at 
$8.(i(i(i.l79:  for  1!)17.  a  total  of  tJ29,972  hmg  tcms,  valued  at  ^10,2(i2,929, 
of  wliich  512,517  tons  were  from  Brazil;  in  1918  a  total  of  -t91,3():{  long 
tons,  value  $15,095,867,  of  which  345,877  tons  were  from  Brazil;  in 
1919.  a  total  of  333.344  long  tons,  value  $11,229,184,  of  which  246,592 
tons  came  from  Brazil;  in  1920.  total  601,437  long  tons,  value 
$11,955,922,  with  421,523  tons,  Brazil;  in  1921,  total  401,354  long  tons, 
$3,365,732,  with  262,468  tons,  Brazil.  In  1922  up  to  Sept.  22,  when  the 
new  taritl'  became  etVective,  a  total  of  327,727  long  tons,  valued  at 
$2,695,724  was  imported;  and  46,724  tons,  value  $704,040  for  the 
remainder  of  the  year.  The  Tariff  Act  of  1922  i)rovides:  "Manganese 
ore  or  concentrates  contiiining  in  excess  of  30  per  centum  of  metallic 
manganese,  1  cent  per  pound  on  the  metallic  manganese  contained." 

Batteries,  chemicals,  and  kindred  industries  in  the  United  States  con- 
sume approximately  25,000  tons  of  high-grade  manganese  ore,  annually, 
or  about  one-thirtieth  of  that  used  in  steel  manufacture. 

A  considera1)le  portion  of  the  state's  1917-1918  product  was 
utilized  in  California  in  making  ferro-inanganese  by  electric  furnace; 
besides  shipments  which  were  sent  East.  Some  'chemicar  ore  was  also 
shipped.  For  many  years  the  principal  producing  section  has  been  the 
Livermore-Tesla  District,  in  Alameda  and  San  Joacpiin  counties,  but 
exceeded  in  1915  by  Mendocino  and  regaining  the  lead  in  1916.  Since 
1918  the  largest  producing  county  has  ])cen  Stanislaus,  which  ad.joins 
San  Joa<piin  on  the  south,  and  whose  manuanese  district  is  a  part  of 
the  same  geological  province  that  includes  the  Livermore-Tesla  Di.strict. 

]\Ianganese  is  rejiorted  to  exist  in  many  localities  in  the  state;  but 
for  a  number  of  years.  j)articulai'ly  since  the  discontinuance  of  the 
chlorination  process  in  the  metallurgy  of  gold,  production  was  relatively 
unimportant  until  the  activity  of  the  war  period,  1915-1919,  since  which 
it  has  returned  to  smaller  figures. 

The  production  of  manganese  ore  in  California  for  1922  amounted  to 
540  tons  of  all  grades,  having  a  total  value  of  $7,650  f.  o.  b.  rail- 
shipping  point.  This  was  a  decrease  both  in  quantity  and  value  from 
the  1921  figures.  The  prices  paid  in  1922  ranged  from  $6  to  $18  per 
short  ton,  the  average  being  approximately  $14  i)er  ton.  The  ores  i)ro- 
duced  in  California  in  1922  were  utilized  mainly  l)y  the  brick,  paint, 
and  glass  trade;  and  came  from  Alameda,  San  Joa<|iiin.  and  Stanislaus 
counties. 


54 


MINERAL    INDUSTKV    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Manganese   Production   in   California,  by  Years. 

Production  of  manganese  ore  in  California  began  at  the  Ladd  Mine, 
San  Joaquin  County,  in  the  Tesla  District  in  1867.  When  shipments 
of  this  ore  to  p]ii.u-]and  coasod  late  in  1874,  upwards  of  5000  tons  had 
been  produced  by  that  property.  For  some  years  following  that,  the 
output  was  small.  The  tabulation  herewith  shows  the  California  output 
of  manganese  ore,  annually,  since  1887,  when  the  compilation  of  such 
figures  Avas  begun  by  the  State  Mining  Bureau : 


Tear 


1887 
1888 
1889 
1890 
1891 
1892 
1893 
1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 


Tons 


Value 


1.000 

1,500 

53 

886 

705 

300 

270 

523 

880 

518 

504 

440 

295 

131 

425 

870 

1 

60 


$9,000 

13.500 

901 

3.176 

3;830 

3.000 

4,050 

5.512 

8,200 

3,415 

4,080 

2,102 

3,165 

1,310 

4.405 

7,140 

25 

90O 


Tear 


Tons 


1 

1 

321 

3 

265 

2 

22 


1906 

1907 

1908 

1909 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913 

1914 150 

1915 4,013 

1916 13,404 

1917 15.515 

1918 26,075 

1919 11.569 

1920 2,892 

1921 1,005 

1922 540 


Value 


$30 

25 

5,785 

75 

4,235 

40 

400 


1,500 

49,098 

274,601 

396,669 

979,235 

4.11.422 

62.323 

12,210 

7,650 


Totals ,   84,639  $2,322,999 


MOLYBDENUM. 

Bihliographij:  Reports  XIV,  XYII.     Bulletin  67.     V.  S.  Bur.  of 
Min.,  Bulletin  111.    Proe.  Colo.  Sei.  Soc,  Vol.  XI. 

Molybdenum  is  used  as  an  alloy  constituent  in  the  steel  indu.stry, 
and  in  certain  forms  of  electrical  apparatus.  Included  in  the  latter, 
is  its  successful  substitution  for  platinum  and  platinum-iridium  in 
electric  contact  making  and  breaking  devices.  In  alloys  it  is  "used 
similarly  to  and  in  conjunction  wdth  chromium,  cobalt,  iron,  manganese, 
nickel,  tungsten,  and  vanadium.  The  oxides  and  the  ammonium  .salt 
have  important  chemical  uses. 

The  two  principal  molybdenum  minerals  are:  the  sulphide,  molyb- 
denite; and  wulfcnite,  lead  molybdatc;  the  former  furnishing  prac- 
tically the  entire  commercial  output.  ^Molybdenite  is  found  in  or  a.sso- 
ciated  with  acidic  igneous  rocks,  such  as  granite  and  pegmatite.  The 
chief  commercial  sources  have  been  New  ,South  Wales,  Queensland,  and 
Norway,  with  some  also  from  Canada. 

Deposits  of  disseminated  molyl)denite  are  known  in  several  localities 
in  California,  and  in  at  least  two  places  it  occurs  in  small  masses 
a.ssociated  with  oo|>])er  sulphides.  The  onh'  recorded  commercial  ship- 
ments of  molybdenum  ore  in  California  were  during  the  war,  1916-1918. 
Some  development  work  has  recently  been  done  on  a  high-grade  deposit 
at  the  head  of  the  Kaweah  River,  Tulare  Countv. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION.  55 

The  1917  output  included  some  concentrates  assaying  up  to  58% 
M0S2  but  the  bulk  of  it  was  1.5%  ore  which  was  sliipped  to  Denver, 
Colorado,  for  concentration.  Th:it  production  came  maiidy  from  Shasta 
County,  with  smaller  amounts  from  Inyo,  Mono  and  San  Diego  counties. 
There  were  two  concentrating  i)lants  l)uilt  in  California — one  in  each  of 
the  above  tir.st  and  last  named  counties. 

In  the  spring  of  1!)1S,  a  flotation  plant  oi)('rat('d  for  a  short  time  by 
a  lessee  on  the  Houkler  Creek  ]Mine,  near  Gibson  Siding,  Shasta  County, 
made  a  small  amount  of  90%.  ]\IoSo  concentrate.  The  ore  treated 
carried  2.6%  ]\IoS.,.  There  has  been  none  produced  in  California  since 
1918. 

Present  quotations  for  molybdenum  ore  are  @  75^  per  pound  for 
85%  ^NIoSj  concentrates,  plus  duty. 

The  California  production  of  molybdenum  ore  by  years  is  summa- 
rized in  the  following  tabulation : 


Year  Tons  Value 


1916  — — - 8  $!),945 

1917   -         213  9,0U 

1918 _ - •  300 


Totals 251  $19,259 

•300  pounds  of  90%  M0S2  concentrate. 

NICKEL. 
Bihliograpliu:  Reports  XIV,  XYII.    U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bulletin  640-D. 

Nickel  occurs  in  the  Friday  Copper  ]\Iine  in  the  Julian  District,  San 
Diego  County.  The  ore  is  a  nickel-bearing  pyrrhotite,  with  some 
associated  chalcopyrites.  Some  ore  has  been  mined  in  the  course  of 
development  work,  but  not  treated  nor  disposed  of,  as  they  were  unable 
to  get  any  smelter  to  handle  it  for  them.  Nickel  ore  has  also  been 
reported  from  other  localities  in  California,  ])ut  not  yet  confirmed. 

Present  quotations  for  nickel  are  27f-32^  per  pound,  according  to 
grade  and  quantity. 

OSMIUM    (see   under   Platinum). 
PALLADIUM   (see  under  Platinum). 

PLATINUM. 

BihUograpJuj :  State  ^Mineralogist  Reports  IV,  VIII,  IX,  XII- 
XVIII.  Bulletins  38,  45,  67,85,  91.  U.  S.  Geol.  Surv.  Bulletins 
193,  285.    Trans.  Am.  Inst.  Min.  Eng.,  Vol.  47,  pp.  217-218. 

In  California,  platinum  is  obtained  as  a  by-product  from  placer 
operations  for  gold.  The  major  portion  of  it  comes  from  the  dredges 
Morking  in  Butte,  Calaveras,  Sacramento,  Shasta  and  Yuba  counties, 
with  smaller  amounts  from  dredges  in  Amador,  Stanislaus  and  Trinity, 
and  from  the  hydraulic  and  surface  sluicing  mines  of  Del  Norte, 
Humboldt,  Siskiyou  and  Trinity. 

During  the  last  threc^  years,  f|uite  a  number  of  prospectors  and  small 
oi)erators,  woi'king  with  i-ockers  and  panning  have  recovered  amounts 
of  platinum  which,  though  individually  small,  have  in  the  aggregate 


56  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF   CALIFORNIA. 

added  inatei-ially  to  tlie  state's  total  yield.  This  is  particularly  true 
of  the  Beeguiu  ('reek  District  in  southwestern  Shasta  County;  also  the 
New  River  and  Hayfork  districts  in  Trinity  County. 

The  production  of  platinum-frroup  metals  in  California  for  1922 
totals  937  ounces,  crude,  containiiiir  795  fine  ounces,  valued  at  $90,288. 
Of  this  amount,  a  total  of  898  ounces,  crude,  or  96^^,  came  from  the 
gold  dredges.  This  is  an  increase  of  182  fine  ounces  in  quantity,  and 
an  increase  of  $31,534  in  value  compared  Avith  the  1921  figures.  The 
prices  pi-evailing  in  1922  were  materially  hitrher  than  in  1921.  From 
$70  to  .$113  per  fine  ounce  was  paid  for  platinum,  and  from  $160  to  $225 
per  fine  ounce  for  iridium  content  in  1922. 

The  above-noted  total  of  898  fine  ounces  includes  570  fine  ounces  of 
osmiridium  and  iridium.  .Most  of  the  ])latinum  refiners  ])ay  for  the 
osmiriilium  on  the  basis  of  its  ii-idium  content.  Crude  'i)latiuum''  is 
really  a  mixture  of  the  metals  of  that  group,  and  carries  vars'ing  per- 
centages of  platinum,  iridium,  and  osmiridium  or  iridosmine,  with 
occasionally  some  palladium.  Some  platinum  and  palladium  arc  also 
recovered  in  the  electrolytic  refining  of  blister  copper.  Iron  in  greater 
or  less  amount  is  always  alloyed  naturally  with  native  platinum,  and 
usually  some  iridium  and  osmium. 

P^or  further  detailed  information  on  California's  platinum  resources, 
anal.v.ses,  tests,  et  al..  the  reader  is  referred  to  Bulletin.  85.  issued 
by  the  State  ^Mining  Bureau,  and  to  the  April,  1922,  issue  of  'Mining  in 
California',  pages  158-172. 

In  addition,  there  is  usually  some  platinum  recovered  as  a  by-jiroduct 
in  the  gold  refinery  of  the  ]\liut,  but  which  can  not  be  assigned  to  the 
territory  of  its  origin  for  lack  of  knowing  to  which  lots  of  gold  it 
belongs.  The  San  Francisco  ]\Iint  is  stated  to  have  recovered  as  high 
as  100  ounces  of  })latinum  in  a  single  year  from  this  source,  some  of 
which  unquestionably  came  from  California  mines. 

For  1922,  the  distribution  of  California's  platinum  yield  was  as 
follows : 

County 


Pine 

ounces 

Value 

30 

$3,826 

22 

2,i:o 

4 

41.'5 

496     ; 

57,4.3,S 

12 

1,22.1 

115 

11,077 

116 

n,ia 

Butte    

Calaveras    

Humboldt   

Shasta   

Trinity    -- 

Yuba    

Amador,  Del  Norte,  Mendocino,  Plumas,  Sacramento,  Stanislaus* 

Totals - - -         795  $00,283 

♦Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 

Russia,  previous  to  1916,  was  producing  from  90%  to  95%  of  the 
world's  i)latinum,  but  for  several  years  following  was  reduced  to  practi- 
cally nothing:  and  has  not  yet  recovered  her  former  position.  Colombia 
ranked  in  second  place.  l)ut  now  leads.  California  is  the  leading  j)ro- 
ducer  in  the  United  States. 


STATISTICS   OP    ANNIAI,    I'KODCCTIOX.  57 

Uses,   Markets,  and   Consumption. 

Besides  its  well-known  uses  in  jcweli-y,  dentistry  and  Tor  cheinieal- 
ware,  an  importiint  industrial  development  of  recent  years  employs 
platimnii  as  a  catal^zci-  in  llie  'eontaet  j)rocess'  of  manufactui'inj;  con- 
icntratcd  siilpluirie  acid.  It  is  also  necessary  for  certain  delicate  i)arts 
of  the  ignition  systems  in  automobiles,  motor  boats,  and  aero{)lanes. 
Experiments  have  l)een  made  to  find  alloys  which  can  rej)laee  platimnn 
for  dishes  and  crucibles  in  analytical  work,  but  so  far  witli  oidy  sli«;lit 
success. 

According  to  Hill'  the  apparent  consumption  of  crude  platinum  in 
the  Tnited  States  in  the  last  few  years  lias  been  about  50.000  ounces  a 
year,  but  the  sui)ply  has  l)een  below  noniud  for  a  numbei-  of  years.  In 
the  Tiuted  States,  the  demand  foi-  I'etined  i)latinum  metals  has  Ijcen 
ap])i-oximately  145. 000  ounces  durinu'  recent  years.  Al)out  half  this 
demand  is  tilled  by  metals  recovered  from  domestic  and  foreign  crude 
platinum  anil  by  recoveries  from  gold,  cop|)er.  and  nickel  refiinng.  but 
importation  of  retined  metals  and  the  recoveries  from  sweeps  and  scrap 
materials  is  an  essential  part  of  the  domestic  supply.  Prior  to  1915  the 
annual  consumption  of  i)latinum  metals  in  the  United  States  was  about 
160,000  ounces. 

"The  chemical  imliistry  uses  phitinuni.  paHatliiim,  iiidhim,  and  rlimUiim  in  tlie  pvirc 
state  and  in  alloys  in  various  tvijcs  of  apparatus.  Appai-cntl.v  the  hulk  of  platinum 
apparatus  contains  from  one-half  of  1  per  cent  to  .">  per  cent  of  either  iridium  or 
ihodium  and  very  small  quantities  of  iron  and  silica,  which  are  detrimental.  Salts 
of  the  various  metals  are   useil  as   reagents  in   the  chemical   lal)oratories. 

"The  chemical  industry  is  not  considered  a  good  or  steady  buyer  of  platinum  metals. 
'J"he  electrical  industry  requires  practically  pure  platinum  and  iridium  to  make  the 
alloys  for  contact  points.  Tliese  alloys  carry  from  5  to  20  per  cent  iridium,  dependent 
on  the  character  of  work  they  are  to  perform.  It  is  understood  that  palladium-Kold 
alloys  are  being  used  for  telephone,  telegraph,  and  signal  equipment  contacts,  and 
rhodium-olatinum  alloys  are  used  in  tlie  manufacture  of  thermo-couples.  Less  expen- 
sive metals,  particidarly  tungsten  and  nickel-chrome  alloys,  are  used  in  some  electrical 
equipment,  such  as  heating  elements,  where  platinum  wns  formerl.v  used. 

"The  demand  for  platinum  in  the  electrical  field  is  good,  but  there  is  a  tendency  to 
develop  substitutes  whicli  may  further  restrict  tlie  market.  The  dental  industry  con- 
sumes considerable  amounts  of  platinum  metals,  but  tlie  recent  developments  .are 
toward  palladium  rather  than  platinum.  Falladium-gold  alloys  have  been  found 
entirely  satisfactor.v  for  tootli  pins,  rivets,  and  for  foil  for  the  manufacture  of  arti- 
ficial teeth.  Formerly  these  articles  were  made  of  platinum  and  platinum-iridium 
alloys.  The  demand  of  the  dental  industry  should  continue  good  and  may  increase, 
for  there  is  no  immediate  prospect  of  the  utilization  of  base-metal  substitutes  for 
precious  metals  in  this  field. 

"Practically  all  of  the  jewelers'  demand  is  for  the  5  or  10  per  cent  iridium-platinum 
alloys,  which  are  sold  by  the  refiners  in  the  form  of  sheet,  wire,  or  semifinished  find- 
ings, such  as  rings  and  settings.  The  jewelers  are  the  largest  consumers  of  platintmi 
in  the  world,  as  platinum  has  been  found  satisfactory  for  gem  settings  and  its 
price  is  commensurate  with  the  value  of  the  gems.  Unless  fashion  should  otherwise 
decree,  there  seems  to  be  no  reason  why  this  market  for  platinum  should  not  increase 
rather  tlian  decrease. 

"Crude  platinum  is  sold  in  lots  ranging  from  less  than  an  ounce  to  hundreds  of 
ounces;  buyers,  however,  prefer  not  to  handle  lots  of  less  than  two  ounces.  For  small 
lots  settlement  is  usually  made  on  the  basis  of  recovered  precious  metals,  each  metal 
being  paid  for  at  the  market  price.  Large  lots  are  usually  offered  with  an  assay 
certificate  from  a  reputable  chemist.  Sometimes  sale  is  made  on  the  basis  of  this 
iissay,  but  more  often  on  an  adjustment  of  the  seller's  assay  and  an  assay  of  a  sample 
taken  in  the  presence  of  the  buyer.  As  the  actual  recoveries  seldom  eoual  the  content 
shown  by  assay,  some  sales  are  made  on  a  figure  which  is  the  average  of  the  assay 
content  and  actual  recovery.  The  latter  method  is  not  liked  by  sellers.  As  all  crude 
platinum  carries  appreciable  quantities  of  palladium  and  iridium,  and  some  of  the  rare 
elements  of  the  platinum  group,  as  well  as  moie  or  less  gold  and  silver,  all  the 
precious  metals  are  shown  in  the  analysis  and  should  lie  paid  for  by  the  purchaser. 

"Formerly  the  markets  were  so  limited  that  buyers  were  in  a  ijosition  to  dictate 
moi-e  or  less  the  pi-ice  of  crude,  and  it  has  been  said  that  in  the  past  crude-platinum 
producers  were  really  at  tlie  mercy  of  the  few  refiners.  More  recently,  liowever.  more 
buyers  have  entered  the  field,  and  reports  indicate  that  the  seller's  position  is  better. 


'Hill,  J.  M..  The  marketing  of  platinum:  Eng.  &  Miii.  .Joui.-Press,  Vol.  114,  pp.  718- 
719,  Oct.  Jl.  1922, 


58  MINERAL    INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 

Much  of  the  dissatisfaction  of  sellers  of  domestic  crude  platinum  seems  to  be  due  to 
lack  of  care  on  their  part  in  cleaning  the  metal  before  trying  to  market  it.  Often 
larse  amounts  of  sand  grains  mixed  with  platinum  particles  necessarily  reduce  the 
value  of  the  material  to  the  refiner,  and  the  returns  from  such  shipments  are  not 
satisfactory  to  the  producer. 

"As  the  platinum  metals  are  very  heavy,  the  volume  of  a  package  containing 
several  hundred  ounces  is  not  large.  Adequate  packing  for  shipment  to  prevent  loss 
is  very  important.  Shipments  of  large  size  from  South  America  are  often  doubly 
wrapped  in  specially  tough,  semiglazed  paper,  sewn  into  tightly  woven  cotten  cloth, 
which  in  turn  is  sewn  into  canvas  and  sealed.  This  package  is  placed  in  a  box  made 
of  g-inch  boards  to  fit  the  parcel  exactly,  put  together  with  screws,  the  heads  of 
which  are  deeply  countersunk  and  the  holes  above  the  screw  head  filled  with  sealirg 
wax.  For  small  shipments  such  elaborate  packing  is  possibly  not  necessary,  though 
every  precaution  against  loss  through  breakage  of  the  wrappings  should  be  taken. 
Domestic  platinum  shipments  are  usually  made  either  by  insured  parcel  post,  or  express, 
the  rate  varying  from  one-half  of  1  per  cent  to  1  per  cent  of  the  value.  Insurance 
companies  will  insure  shipments  to  and  from  foreign  countries  at  a  usual  rate  of 
one-half   of   1    per  cent,   though   some   rates   are   lower. 

"The  market  for  platinum,  both  crude  and  refined  metal,  is  very  sensitive,  and 
prices  vary  from  day  to  day,  depending  more  on  the  supply  of  imported  material  than 
demand,  though  sellers  of  crude  platinum  watcli  the  market  closely  for  sudden  changes 
in  price.  The  strongest  market  is  usually  in  the  fall,  when  manufacturing  jewelers 
begin  making  up  stock  for  the  holidays,  for  the  jewelry  industry  is  the  largest  and 
most  steady  buyer  of  platinum.  The  following  table  gives  the  range  of  prices  of  the 
three  principal  platinum  metals  for  the  last  ten  years.  Although  prices  have  decreased 
considerably  since  the  war,  they  are  still  much  above  the  pre-war  level,  and  it  is 
believed  that  high  prices  will  prevail  for  some  years,  for  supplies  of  crude  platinum 
are  short  and  will  be  short  until  the  Russian  fields  again  become  a  factor  in  the 
market." 

"Prices  of  the  Three  Important   Platinum   Metals,  Per  Troy  Ounce,   1911-1921. 


Platinum 

Palladium 

Iridium 

"1911  - - 

1912  — 

1913 - - — 

1914  - 

$43  50 

45  SO 

44  88 

-  .     45  00 

$5500 

55  00 
50  00 
44  OO 

56  00 
67  00 

110  00 
135  00 
130  00 
108  00 
50  00 

$62  00 
65  OO 
65  00 

65  00 

1915  

1916  

1917 

55  00 

84  00 

_ 103  00 

83  00 

94  00 

150  00 

1918  — 

1919      - -- 

105  00 

123  00 

175  00 
255  00 

1920  — 

1921 

j    111  00 

.-.'     75  00 

331  00 

195  00 

"All  dealings  in  the  platinum  metals  are  on  a  strictly  cash  basis,  and  no  discounts 
are  either  asked  or  given.  Though  quotations  are  published  each  week,  it  is  practi- 
cally impossible  to  get  a  'firm  offer'  either  to  buy  or  sell  that  holds  for  more  than 
forty-eight  hours.  All  transactions  for  both  crude  and  refined  metals  are  based  on 
the  troy  ounce  of  480  grains.  As  the  domestic  production  of  platinum  metals  is 
practically  negligible,  imports  of  foreign  crude  are  absolutely  necessary  to  supply  our 
refiners,  and,  as  there  is  a  world  shortage  of  crude  platinum,  it  is  necessary  to  import 
considerable  quantities  of  refined  metals.  English,  French,  and  German  brands  seem 
to  be  equally  acceptable,  possibly  because  they  pass  through  the  hands  of  domestic 
refiners  and  makers,  whose  reputation  is  established  and  concerning  the  character  of 
whose  goods  there  is  no  question.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  the  ultimate  consumer  rarely 
knows  whether  he  or  she  has  real  platinum  or  something  of  the  same  color.  So  long 
as  the  piece  of  jewelry  or  apparatus  looks  and  acts  as  platinum  should,  there  is  little 
question  as  to  the  chemical  purity  of  the  metal." 

A  recent  press  bulletin-  of  the  T".  S.  Geological  Survey  shows  that  the 
total  consumption  of  platinum  metals  in  the  United  States  in  1922  was 
181,498  troy  ounces,  an  increase  of  about  3%  as  compared  with  the 
consumption  in  1921. 

=U.  S.  Geol.  Surv.,  Press  Bulletin,  June  20,  1923. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL    PRODUCTION. 


59 


'Consumption   of   Platinum   in  the   United   States,   1921-1922,   by    Industries, 

in  Troy  Ounces. 


Industry 


1921 


"Chemical   

Electrical   

Dental    

Jewelry    

Miscellaneous 


Totals 


"Ch?mical    

Electrical   

Dental    

Jewelry   

Miscellaneous 

Totals-- 


1922 


Per  cent 

Platinum 

Iridium 

Palladium 

Total 

of  total 

12,273 

34 

45 

12,362 

7.02 

20,574 

1,003 

7,628 

29,203 

16.58 

13,181 

75 

8,501 

21,757 

12.35 

101, 2n8 

2,307 

1,265 

1(M,S90 

59.55 

3,791 

3,938 

217 

7,946 

4.50 

151,077 

7.417 

17,^4 

176,148 

100.00 

8,831 

172 

458 

9,464 

6.02 

2-1,988 

1,537 

2.735 

29,260 

.  16.12 

11,G51 

83 

5,535 

17,269 

9.71 

108,527 

2,588 

9,852 

120,967 

63.65 

2,838 

1,064 

636 

4,538 

2.50 

156,838 

5,444 

19,216 

181,498 

100.00" 

Platinum    Production  of  California  by  Years. 
Tlie  annual  production  and  value  since  1887,  have  been  as  follows; 


1887 
1888 
1889 
1890 
1891 
1892 
1893 
1894 
1895 
189() 
1897 
1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 


Year 


Ounces 


100 

500 

500 

600 

100 

80 

75 

100 

150 

162 

150 

300 

300 

400 

250 

39 

70 

123 

200 


Value 


$400 

2,000 

2.000 

2,500 

500 

440 

517 

6C0 

900 

944 

900 

1,800 

1.800 

2,500 

3,200 

468 

1,052 

1,849 

3,320 


Ye.ir 


1906 

1907 

1908 

1909 

1910 

1911 

1912 .- 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

1919 

1920 

1921 

1922 

Totals 


Ounces 


91 

300 
706 
416 
337 
Ell 
6C-3 
3G8 
463 
667 
886 
610 
571 
*41S 
477 
613 
795 


13,025 


Value 


$1,647 
6,255 
13.414 
10,400 
8.386 
14,873 
19,731 
17.738 
14,816 
21,149 
42,642 
43,719 
42.788 

•m6n 

68,977 

58,754 
90,288 

$563,878 


♦Fine  ounces,  beginning  with  1919. 


QUICKSILVER. 

Bibliorjrnphi/:  State  :\lin('ralofrist  Reports  IV,  V,  XII-XV.  XVIT. 
XVill.  Bulletins  27,  78,  91.  U.  S.  Geol.  Surv.,  Monograph 
XIII.    U.  S.  Bur.  of  Mines,  Tech.  Papers  96,  227. 

Quicksilver  Avas  produced  in  C^alifornia  in  seven  counties  during 
1922,  to  the  amount  of  346(i  tlask.s,  valued  at  !|?191,851,  beinjL'  a  .slight 
increase  both  in  amount  and  value  over  the  1921  output,  which  was  the 
smallest  number  of  flasks  ])r()(luced  in  a  year  in  California  since  the 
quicksilver  industry  ])egan  in  1849.  The  average  price  received  during 
1922,  according  to  the  producers'  reports  to  the  State  Mining  Bureau, 


60  MINERAL    INDUSTKV    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

was  .'i^ilo.-So  jier  flask,  as  against  .t44.r)()  in  1!)21.  and  the  record  average 
of  $114.03  for  the  year  1918. 

The  avera.Ere  of  San  Francisco  quotations  for  1922  was  $57.78  per 
Mask.  Quotations  ranged  from  $47.;5()  in  Febriuii'v  to  $71.30  at  the 
chise  of  the  year. 

Ht>cause  of  liiyli  oi)erating  costs,  and  foreign  importations,  practically 
all  of  California's  important  quicksilver  ])rodncers  have  been  shut  down 
since  November,  1920,  with  the  exception  of  the  Senator  IMine  of  the 
New  Almaden  Company  in  Santa  Clara  Count.v,  which  has  been  working 
steadily,  and  the  Cloverdale  Mine  in  Sonoma,  operated  intermittently. 
Operations  are  now  heing  resumed  at  the  New  Idria  ]Mine,  San  Benito 
County,  and  at  the  Oat  Hill  and  the  Knoxville  mines,  Napa  County. 

The  taritf  act  of  1922  provides  for  an  imjxjrt  duty  of  '2n^  per  pound, 
01-  $18.75  per  Mask  (75  pounds,  net).  This  l)ecame  effective  September 
21,  1922,  following  which  the  situation  for  our  domestic  producers  has 
been  somewhat  improved. 

Quicksilver,  though  not  used  in  such  quantities  as  is  copper  or  some 
of  the  other  metals,  is  not  less  vital  in  peace  than  in  war.  No  eoni- 
l^letely  successful  substitute  has  yet  been  found  for  quicksilver  in  some 
of  its  uses.  Except  during  the  stimulated  prcKluction  resulting  from 
the  higli  prices  of  the  war  period,  our  domestic  output  of  quicksilver 
for  a  number  of  years  has  not  kept  i)ace  witli  domestic  consumption. 
This  is  not  due  to  a  lack  of  local  sources,  but  mainly  to  the  competition 
of  low-cost  foreign  metal  duuq)ed  onto  our  market  through  an  almost 
ui^gligiblc  import  dut.v.  Otlier  tinaucial  and  economic  conditions 
obtaining  during  these  year.s  have  also  had  their  etfect  on  the  situation, 
but  they  could  have  been  weathered  had  it  not  been  that  the  lack 
of  taritf  protection  permitted  the  too-free  entry  of  foreign  metal. 
There  is  plenty  of  ground,  even  in  California,  in  addition  to  what  may 
be  in  Nevada  and  Texas,  that  will  warrant  development  if  only  a  fair 
price  can  be  assured  that  will  justify  exploitation. 

Uses. 

The  most  important  uses  of  quicksilver  are  the  recoveiy  of  gold  and 
silver  by  amalgamation,  and  in  the  manufacture  of  fulminate  for 
explosive  caps,  of  drugs,  of  electric  appliances,  and  of  scientific  appa- 
ratus. By  far  the  greatest  consumption  is  in  tlie  manufacture  of  ful- 
minate and  drugs. 

One  new  use  for  quicksilver  is  in  tlie  introduction  of  a  small  amount 
into  the  cylinders  of  steam  turbines  to  improve  the  vapor  pressure  and 
thus  increase  efficiency.  This  mercurv  is  recoverable  and  can  be  re-used^. 
so  that  there  is  only  a  small  proportional  loss. 

Quicksilver  is  an  absolutely  essential  element  from  a  military  stand- 
point, as  there  has  not  yet  been  produced  an  entirel.v  satisfactory  com- 
mercial substitute  for  it  in  the  manufacture  of  fulminating  caps  for 
exph)sives.  However,  in  oi"der  to  reduce  consumption  of  the  fulminate, 
some  pota.ssium  chlorate,  picric  acid,  ti'initro-toluol,  or  tetranitro- 
methvlamiiie  is  sometimes  mixed  with  it. 


STATISTICS   OF    AXM'Al,    I'l.'OI )!( 'I'K  »N. 


01 


Total   Quicksilver   Production   of   California. 

Total  amount  an<l  valiu'  of  tlic  ((uieksilver  production  of  (*alit"oi'iiia, 
as  ^'ivcn  in  available  records,  is  shown  in  the  following  tal)ulation. 
'I'houtjh  the  New  Alniadcn  Mine  in  Santa  Clara  County  wa.s  first  worked 
in  ]S24,  and  has  been  in  practically  continuous  operation  since  184G 
(thouirh  the  yield  was  small  the  first  two  years),  there  are  no  available 
data  on  tlie  outi)ut  earlier  than  1850.  Previous  to  June,  19(U,  a  'fiask' 
of  quicksilver  contained  76|  pounds,  but  since  that  date  75  pounds.  In 
compiling:  this  table  the  following  sources  of  information  were  used: 
for  1850-1888,  table  by  J.  H.  l^andol.  in  Report  of  State  Mineralogist, 
J\;,  1).  33f):  188;}-18!);i  V.  S.  Geological  Survey  reports;  1894  to  date, 
statistical  bulletins  of  the  State  .Mining  Bureau;  also  State  IMining 
P)urcau,  Uullctin  27,  "Quicksilver  Kesources  of  California,"  1908, 
p.  10: 


Tear 


Flasks 


Value 


Average 

price  per 

flask 


Tear 


Flasks 


Value 


1850  

1851  

1852  

1853  

1854  

1855  

1856 

1857  

1858  

1859 

1860  

1861  

1862  

1863  

1864  

1865  

1866  

1867  

1868  

1869  

1870 

1871  

1872  

1873  

1874  

1875  

1876  

1877  

1878  - 

1879 

1880  

1881  

1882  

1883  

1884  

1885 

1886 


7.723 
27.779 
20,000 
22.284 
30.004 
33.000 
30.000 
28.204 
31,000 
13,000 
lO.OOO 
35,000 
42.000 
40.531 
47.489 
53.000 
46.550 
47,000 
47.728 
3.3.811 
30.077 
31,686 
31,621 
27,642 
27.756 
50.250 
75,074 
79,396 
63.880 
73,684 
59.926 
60.851 
52,732 
46.725 
31.913 
32,073 
29.981 


$768,052 
1.859.248 
1.166,600 
1.235,648 
1,663.722 
1,767.150 
1.549.500 
1,374.381 
1,482,730 
820,690 
535.500 
1.471.750 
1.526.700 
1,705,544 
2,179,745 
2.432,700 
2.473.202 
2,157.300 
2,190,715 
1,551.925 
1.725.818 
1.999.387 
2.084,773 
2,220,482 
2.919.376 
4.228,538 
3.303.256 
2,961.471 
2,101.552 
2,194.374 
1,857.706 
1,815,185 
1.488,624 
1,343,344 
973.347 
986,245 
1.064,326 


$99  45 
66  93 
58  33 
55  45 
55  45 
53  55 
51  65 
48  73 
47  83 
63  13 
53  55 
42  05 
66  35 
42  08 
45  90 
45  90 
53  13 
45  90 
45  90 
45  90 
57  38 
63  10 
65  93 
80  33 

105  18 
84  15 
44  00 
37  30 
32  90 
29  85 
31  00 

29  83 
28  23 
28  75 

30  50 
30  75 
35  50 


1887 

1888  

1889  

1890  

1891  

1892  

1893  

1894  

1895  

1896  

1897  

1898 

1899 

1900  

1901  

1902  

1903 

1904  

1905  

1906  

1907  

19(18  

1909 ,„. 

I  1910  

'  1911  ..  — . 

1912 

1913  ..  .._... 

1914  

1915  -  

1916 

1  1917  

1918 

1919  

1920 

1921  

1922  


33,760 

1,430,749 

33.250 

1.413,125 

26.464 

1.190,880 

22,926 

1.203.615 

22,904 

1.036.406 

27,993 

1.139.595 

30,164 

1.108.527 

30.416 

934.000 

36,104 

1,337,131 

30.765 

1.075.449 

26.691 

993,445 

31.092 

1,188,626 

29.454 

1,405,045 

26,317 

1,182,786 

26,720 

1,285,014 

29,552 

1,276,524 

32.094 

1.335.954 

■'28,876 

l.n86,.323 

24.655 

886,081 

19.516 

712,334 

17.379 

663.178 

]8,f«i> 

7fi.'?„'')2() 

16,217 

773.788 

17.665 

799.002 

19.109 

879,205 

20,600 

866.024 

15,361 

630.042 

11.373 

557.846 

14,199 

1,157,449 

21.427 

2,003.425 

24,382 

2.396,466 

22,621 

2,579,472 

15,200 

1,353,381 

10,278 

775.527 

3,157 

140,666 

3,466 

191,851 

Average 

price  per 

flask 


$42  38 

42  50 
45  00 
52  50 
45  25 
40  71 

36  75 
30  70 

37  04 

34  96 

37  28 

38  23 

47  70 

44  94 

48  46 

43  20 
42  25 

37  62 

35  94 

36  50 

38  16 
42  3.3 
47  71 

45  23 

46  01 
42  04 
40  23 

49  05 
81  52 
93  50 
98  29 

114  03 
89  04 
75  45 

44  56 
55  35- 


TotalS-J  2,192,450  $107,03.3,457 


•Flasks  of  75  lbs.  since  June,  1904;  of  76i  lbs.  previously. 


62 


MINERAL   INDTTSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


SILVER. 

BibUographij :    State   ^Mineralouist   Reports   IV,   VIII.   XII-XIX 
(inc.).    Bulletins  67,  91.    Min.  &  Sei.  Press,  March  1,  1919. 

Silver  in  California  is  produced  largely  as  a  by-product  from  its 
association  with  copper,  lead,  zinc,  and  gold  ores.  As  explained  under 
the  heading  of  Gold,  the  State  Alining  Bureau  does  not  collect  the 
statistics  of  silver  production  independently  of  the  U.  S.  Geological 
Survey. 

The  average  price  of  domestic  silver  during  1922  was  $1.00  per  ounce 
at  New  York  as  compared  with  54.8^'  in  1914;  50.7^  in  1915;  65.8^ 
in  1916;  82.4^  in  1917;  $1  in  1918;  $1.12  in  1919;  $1.09  in  1920  and 
$1.00  in  1921. 

The  following  paragraph  is  quoted  from  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey 
Advance  Chapter  on  1922,  by  courtesy  of  ^Ir.  J.  M.  Hill,  statistician 
in  charge  of  the  San  Francisco  branch  office : 

"There  were  3,100,065  ounces  of  silver  produced  in  California  in  1922,  which  is 
r)29.15S  ounces  less  than  the  output  in  1921.  This  loss  of  silver  output  is  largely  due 
to  the  decreased  shipments  from  the  Riindsburg  district  in  San  Bernardino  County, 
for  much  more  silver  was  produced  from  the  lead  ores  of  Inyo  County  and  the  copper 
ores  of  Plumas  County  than  in  1921.  The  decrease  in  silver  production  from  the 
R;indsburgr  district   was  835,754    ounces. 

"The  output  of  silver  from  placer  mines  in  1922  was  19.613  ounces,  about  50  per 
cent  as  much  as  in  1921,  and  the  decrease  was  practically  all  from  the  dredge  opera- 
tions, which  produced  16,608  ounces  in  1922,  as  compared  with  36,322  ounces  in  1921. 
There  were  slight  increases  of  silver  output  from  drift  and  hydraulic  operations,  but 
surface  placers  produced  less  silver  than  in  1921. 

"The  production  of  silver  from  deep  mines  was  3,080,452  ounces,  a  decrease  of 
510,141  ounces,  as  compared  with  1921.  The  deep  mines  supplied  99.37  per  cent  of  the 
silver  output  of  the  state.  The  Kelly  mine  at  Randsburg  was  by  far  the  largest 
producer  of  silver  in  the  state  and  the  production  of  silver  from  San  Bernardino 
County  was  77  per  cent  of  the  total  deep  mine  output.  The  copper  ores  mined  in 
Plumas  County  carried  the  second  largest  r4uantity.  and  the  lead  ores  mined  in  Inyo 
County  the  third  largest  quantity  of  silver  produced  at  deep  mines.  The  output  of 
silver  from  deep  mines  of  these  counties  was  296,764  ounces  and  256,009  ounces, 
respectively.  The  next  nearest  competitor  was  Amador  County,  whose  dry  gold  ores 
yielded  32,039  ounces  of  silver.  Dry  silver  ores  mined  in  1922  yielded  77  per  cent, 
cooper  ores  10  per  cent,  lead  ore  9  per  cent,  and  dry  gold  ore  3  per  cent  of  the  total 
deep  mine  silver  output  of  the  state.  Gold  and  silver  mills  recovered  3  per  cent,  con- 
centrates produced  at  all  types  of  mills  carried  35  per  cent,  and  ore  sent  direct  to 
smelters  62  per  cent  of  the  silver  output  of  California  In  1922." 

Silver  output  was  sustained  and  encouraged  through  the  operation  of 
the  Pittman  Act  maintaining  the  price  of  domestic  silver  at  $1.00  per 
ounce  minimum.  This  ceased,  however,  after  June  of  the  current  vear, 
1923. 

The  distribution  of  the  1922  silver  yield,  by  counties,  was  as  follows : 


County 


Value 


Amador  .. 

Butte 

Calaveras 
El  Dorado 
Fresno   --- 
Humboldt 
Imperial  — 

Inyo 

Kern 

Madera  .— 
Mariposa  . 

Mono 

Nevada  .— 
Placer  


$32,28rr 
1,89:) 

11,&48 

376 

87 

10 

18,024 

256,006 

6,524 

3,500 

3,301 

11,686 

19,583 

952 


County 


Value 


Plumas 

Sacramento 

San  Bernardino 

Shasta 

Sierra 

Siskiyou _— 

Trinity  

Tuolumne  - 

Tuba  

Colusa,  Del  Norte,  Lassen,  Los  An- 
geles, Orange,  San  Diego,  Merced 
and  Stanislaus*  


297,254 

3,392 

2,374,948 

26,901 

14,484 

612 

2,432 

2,976 

8,222 


2,907 


Total  value I    $3,100,065 


•Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  63 

Silver   Production   of  California   by   Years. 

The  value  of  the  silver  produced  in  California  each  year  since  1880 
has  been  as  folloM's,  the  data  previous  to  1887  being  taken  from  the 
reports  of  the  Director  of  the  Mint.  There  are  no  data  available  for 
the  years  previous  to  1880 : 


Tear 

Value 

Tear 

Value 

1880 

$1,140,556 

1902 

$616,412 

1881  - 

750,000 

1903 

517,444 

1882 - 

845,000 

1904 

873,525 

1883 

1.460.000 

1905 

678,494 

1884  

M,185,101 

1906 

817,830 

1885 - 

2,568,036 

1907 

751,646 

1886 - 

1,610,626 

1908 

873,057 

1887 

1,632,004 

1909 

1,091,092 

1888   ,        - 

1,700,000 
1,065,281 

1910 

993,646 

1889  

1911 

673,336 

1890  

1,060,613 

1912 

799,584 

1891 

953,157 

1913 

832,553 

1892 

463,602 

1914 

813,938 

1893 

537,158 

1915 

851,129 

1894  

297,332 

1916 

1,687,345 

1895  

599,790 

1917 

1.462,955 

1896 

422,464 

1918 

1,427,861 

1897 

452,789 

1919 

1,240,051 

1898       

414,055 
504,012 

1920  

1,859,896 

1921 

3,629,223 

1900 

^724,500 

1922 

3,100,065 

1901  

=571,849 

Totals    .  ..  

$49,&49,007 

iLawrer,  A.  M.,  In  Production  of  Precious  Metals  in  United  States:  Report  ol  Director  ol 
Mint,  1884,  p.  175;  1885. 

^Recalculated  to  'commercial'  from  'coining  value,'  as  originally  published. 

TIN. 

Bibliofjraplnf :  Reports  XV,  XVII,  XVIII.     Bulletins  67,  91. 

Tin  is  not  at  present  produced  in  California;  but  during  1891-1892, 
there  was  some  output  from  a  small  deposit  near  Corona,  in  Riverside 
County,  as  ta])ulat('d  below.  Small  quantities  of  stream  tin  have  been 
found  in  some  of  the  placer  workings  in  northern  California,  but  never 
in  paying  amounts. 

Two  occurrences  have  also  been  noted,  in  northern  San  Diego  County. 
Crystals  of  cassitorite  were  found  there,  associated  with  blue  tourmaline 
cr3\stals,  amblygonite  and  beryl.  No  commercial  quantity  has  been 
developed,  only  .small  pockets  having  been  taken  out. 

The  principal  sources  of  the  world's  supply  of  tin  are  the  islands 
of  Banka.  Billiton  and  Singkop,  Netherlands  India  (Dutch  East 
Indies),  followed  l)y  the  Federated  ]\Ialay  States  (Perak,  Pahang, 
Negri  Sembilan  and  Selangor).  Bolivia,  Siam,  Cornwall,  Transvaal, 
New  South  Wales,  Queen.sland  and  Tasmania  are  also  important 
sources.  A  measurable  amount  of  the  metal  is  also  recovered  by 
de-tinning  scrap  and  old  cans. 


(i4  .MI\i:i{AI.    IXDlSTin'    Ol'    (AMKORXIA. 

Total  output  of  tiu  in  California : 

Tear  |    Pounds         Value 


1S91    125,289  |27,5Gt 

1802    126,000  32,400 

Totals 251,289  $59,90i 

\ \ 

TUNGSTEN. 

Bibliography:  Reports  XV,  XVII.  XVIII.  Bulletins  38.  67,  91. 
U.  S.  G.  S.  Bull.  652.  Proe.  Colo.  Sei.  Soo.  Vol.  XL  South 
Dakota  School  of  ^Nlines,  Bulletin  No.  12.  Eng.  and  ^lin.  Jonr.- 
Press,  Vol.  113,  pp.  666-669.  Apr.  22,  1922. 

Tungsten  ore  ha.s  heen  produced  in  California  principally  in  the 
Atolia-Hands])urg  district  in  San  Bernardino  and  Kern  counties,  fol- 
lowed l)y  the  Bishop  district  in  Inyo  County,  with  small  amounts 
coming  from  Nevada  County  and  from  the  district  near  Golfs,  in 
ea.stern  San  Bernardino.  Most  of  the  California  tungsten  ore  is 
scheelite  (calcium  tungstate).  though  wolframite  (iron-manganese 
tungstate)  and  hiibnerite  (manganese  tungstate)  also  occur.  The 
deposits  at  Atolia  are  the  largest  and  most  productive  scheelite  deposits 
known,'  and  the  output  has  in  some  years  equaled  or  exceeded  that  of 
ferberite  (iron  tungstate)  from  Boulder  County,  Colorado.  It  is  inter- 
esting in  this  connection  to  note  that,  in  practically  all  other  tungsten 
producing  districts  of  the  world,  wolframite  is  the  important  con- 
stituent. Burma,  the  largest  producer,  reported-  for  1917-1919,  yields 
of  4.537,  4.443,  and  3,577  tons  of  wolframite  concentrates,  respectively, 
most  of  which  was  obtained  from  placers,  in  part  associated  with  cas- 
siterite  (tin  oxide). 

Imports  of  foreign  tungsten  ores  into  the  United  States  during  1922 
amounted  to  1665  long  tons,  valued  at  .'1^281,251,  compared  with  1441 
hmg  tons  at  $276,757  in  1921,  1740  lonir  tons,  at  $779,593,  in  1920, 
8400  long  tons,  at  .$6,261,190,  in  1919,  and  10,362  long  tons  valued  at 
$11,409,237,  in  1918,  which  ores  were  duty  free  up  to  September  22, 
1{)22.  Owing  to  lack  of  protection  against  the  cheap  coolie  labor  of 
Asiatic  tungsten  mines,  and  the  low  market  prices,  practically  all  of  the 
tungsten  mines  in  the  United  States  have  been  closed  down  since  the 
middle  of  1919.  Quotations  during  1922  ranged  around  $2.50  per  unit, 
np  to  Septeml)er.  Present  quotations  are  $8.50-$9.0(),  with  a  miiiimum 
of  609f.  The  taritf  act  of  1!)22,  which  l)ecame  etl'ective  September  22, 
1922,  placed  a  duty  on  tungsten  ore  or  concentrates  of  45^  per  pound  on 
the  metallic  tungsten  contained  therein.  Duties  are  also  provided  for 
imported  tungsten-])earing  alloys. 

The  value  of  the  ore  is  based  upon  the  content  of  tungstic  trioxide 
(WO3),  and  rpiotations  are  commonly  made  per  unit  (each  l^p)  of 
WO3  present. 

In  California  in  1920-1922,  there  was  no  production  of  tungsten, 
neither  of  ore  nor  concentrates,  for  the  tii*st  time  since  the  beginning  of 
tungsten  mining  in  this  state.    The  tonuages  here  shown  are  recalculated 

'U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.   652,  p.  32. 

=U.  S.  Commerce  Reports,  No.  78,  April  5,  1921,  p.  95. 


I 


STATISTICS    OF    ANM  Ai.    I'RODUCTION. 


05 


to  a  l)asis  of  00%  WO,.  Concentrates  usually  carry  597^;  to  63%. 
Previous  to  1915.  a  sincrle  company  ])roducod  almost  all  of  California's 
tungsten.  During  the  latter  part  of  191."),  and  the  early  months  of  1916, 
])ecause  of  the  high  prices  prevailing,  prospecting  was  nuieh  stimulated, 
and  the  known  tungsten-hearing  areas  were  eonsiderahly  extended  hoth 
in  San  Hernardiiio  and  Kern  counties.  In  the  Clark  ^Mountain  and 
New  York  .Mountain  districts  in  eastern  San  Bernardino  County, 
wolframite  and  hiibnerite  are  the  principal  ores,  with  some  scheelite, 
while  at  Atolia  it  is  scheelite  only.  Scheelite  is  also  the  tungsten  min- 
eral in  Inyo  County  near  Bisho]).  and  three  concentrating  mills  have 
l)een  in  operation  there.     The  Nevada  County  ore  is  scheelite. 

The  metal,  tungsten,  is  used  mainly  in  the  steel  industry  and  in  the 
manufacture  of  electrical  ai)pliances,  including  the  well-known  tung- 
sten filament  lamps.  Because  of  its  resistance  to  corrosion  ])y  acids,  it 
is  valual)le  in  making  certain  forms  of  chemical  api)aratus.  Its  employ- 
ment in  tool-steel  alloys,  permits  the  operation  of  cutting  tools,  such 
as  in  lathe  woik,  at  a  speed  and  temperature  at  which  carbon  steel 
would  lose  its  temper — hence  the  name  'high  speed'  steels  for  these 
tungsten  alloys.  As  made  in  the  United  States,  tungsten  forms  13% 
to  20%  of  such  steels.  Some  chromium,  nickel,  cobalt,  or  vanadium, 
are  sometimes  also  included.  Tungsten  compounds  are  used  in  the 
manufacture  of  colors. 

Tungst(>n  is  introduced  into  the  molten  steel  charge,  either  as  the 
powdered  metal  or  as  ferro-tungsten  (containing  50%-85%  tungsten). 
The  specific  gravity  of  the  pure  metal,  19.3-21.4,  is  exceeded  only  by 
platinum,  21.5;  iridium,  22.4 -.  and  osmium,  22.5.  Its  melting  point  is 
3,267°  C.  (5,913°  F.),  being  higher  than  any  other  known  metal. 
Though  millions  of  tungsten  filament  lamps  are  now  made,  the  wires 
are  so  fine  that  the  metal  they  contain  represents  but  a  few  tons  of 
tungsten  concentrates  annually. 

Total   Tungsten   Ore    Production   of  California. 

The  ainiual  amount  and  value  of  tungsten  ores  and  concentrates 
produced  in  California  since  the  inception  of  the  industry  is  given  here- 
with, with  tonnages  recalculated  to  60%  WO3 : 


(     Tons  Bt     1 
Tear                   60%  WOs           Value 

Tods  at 

Tear                    60%  WOs           Value 

1905 57              $18,800 

1914 420    1        $180,575 

1906 485              189,100 

1907 287              120,587 

1908 105                37,750 

1909 577              190,500 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918    

962 

2,270 
2,466 
1.982 

1,005,467 
4,571,521 
3,079,013 
2,832,222 

1910                      ..               457              208,245 

1919 

214 

219,316 

1911                                        387              127,706 

1920 

1912 572              206,000 

1913 559              234,673 

Totals 

11.800 

$13,221,475 

VANADIUM. 

Bihlioqraphii :  Report   XV.     Bulletin  67.     Proc. 
Vol'.  XI.     U.  S.  Bur.  of  Mines,  Bulletin  104. 


Colo.   Sei.  Soc, 


No  commercial  production  of  vanadium  has  as  yet  been  made  in  Cali- 
fornia. Occurrences  of  this  metal  have  been  found  at  Camp  Signal, 
near  CoflFs,  in  San  Bernardino  County,  and  two  companies  at  one  time 
did  considerable  development  work  in  the  endeavor  to  open  up  paying 

5— 2S547 


CiG 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


fiuantities.  Each  liad  a  mill  under  construction  in  191G,  but  apparently 
no  commercial  output  was  made.  Ore  carrying  the  mineral  cuprode- 
scloizite  and  reported  as  assayinc^  4:%  VoO.,  was  opened  up.  Late  in 
1917,  some  ore  carrying  lead  vanadate  was  discovered  in  the  29  Palms, 
or  Washington  district,  on  the  line  between  Riverside  and  San  Ber- 
nardino counties. 

The  principal  use  of  vanadium  is  as  an  alloy  in  steels,  especially  in 
tool  steel  and  in  those  varieties  where  resistance  to  repeated  strains  is 
required.  Present  New  York  quotations  for  vanadium  ore  are  @  75^- 
$1  per  pound  of  contained  V2O5  (guaranteed  minimum  of  18%  V0O5). 


ZINC. 

Bihliogmphy :   State  Mineralogist  Reports  XIV,  XV,  XVII,  XVIIT. 
BulletinsSS,  67,  91. 

The  production  of  zinc  in  California  in  1922  amounted  to  3,034,430 
pounds,  worth  $172,963  at  the  average  price  of  5.1^  quoted  for  the 
metal.  This  (mtput  represents  mainly  the  metal  contained  in  zinc 
oxide  prepared  at  the  plant  of  the  Shasta  Zinc  and  Copper  Company. 
There  was  also  some  ore  shipped  from  Inyo  Count}''  to  Colorado  for 
smelting.  The  oxide  was  obtained  directly  from  zinc-copper  ore  by 
roasting  in  the  reverberator.y,  collecting  in  a  bag-house,  and  subsequent 
refining.  The  resultant  product  was  sold  to  paint  and  rubber  manu- 
facturers ;  and  there  appears  to  be  a  promising  future  for  such  business 
on  the  Pacific  Coast.  There  are  already  several  automobile  tire  plants 
in  operation  in  California. 

The  zinc  ores  of  Shasta  and  Calaveras  counties  are  associated  with 
copper,  while  those  of  Inyo  aud  San  Bernardino  are  associated  prin- 
cipall.y  with  lead-silver  and  zinc-silver  ores. 

The  principal  uses  of  zinc  are  for  'galvanizing'  (plating  on  iron  to 
prevent  rust),  for  zinc  oxide  (used  in  rubber  goods  and  paint),  and  for 
brass  (an  alloy  of  copper  and  zinc).  These  outlets  for  the  metal  take 
approximately  80%  of  the  quantity  produced.  Of  the  remaining  20% 
a  large  portion  is  rolled  into  plates  and  sheets,  and  utilized  in  the 
building  industry  for  sheathing,  roofing,  leaders,  and  eaves-troughs. 
Zinc  is  particularly  desirable  and  efficient  for  roofing  and  siding  where 
corrosive  gases  are  present,  as  at  smelters,  refineries  and  chemical 
plants. 

Total  Zinc  Production   of  California. 

Total  figures  for  zinc  output  of  the  state  are  as  follows,  commercial 
production  dating  back  only  to  1906 : 


Tear 


Pounds 


1906 206.000  $12,566 

1S07. 177  J59  10,598 

1908  54,000  3,544 

1909  

1910  

1911 2,679,842  152,751 

1912  4,331,391  298,866 

1913 1,157.947  64,845 

1914  399.641  j  20,381 


Tear 


Pounds 


1915 13,043,411 

1916  15,950,565 

1917  11,854,80^1 

1918  5,565,561 

1919  1,384,192 

1920  1,188,009 

1921  846,184 


1922 


3,0^,430 


Value 

$1,617,383 

2,137,375 

1,209,190 

506,466 

101.046 

96,229 

42,309 

172,96:5 


.Totals 61,873,736      $6,446,512 


STATISTICS   OF    AXM    \l-    l'Kol)t;CTION.  G7 

CHAPTER  I-OUR. 

STRUCTURAL  MATERIALS. 

Bihliofirophji:  Stato  :Minoralnc:ist  Roports  XTV,  XV,  XVII.     Bui- 
letiu  38.     See  also  under  each  substance. 

As  indicated  by  this  subdivision  headiuf;,  tlie  mineral  substances 
hercMu  considered  ai'e  those  more  oi-  less  directly  used  in  l)uilding  and 
structural  work.  C'alifoi-nia  is  independent,  so  fur  as  these  ai'e  con- 
cerned, and  almost  any  reasonable  construction  can  he  made  with 
materials  produced  in  the  state.  Tliis  ])ranch  of  the  mineral  industry 
for  1922  was  valued  at  $86,992,001,  as  compared  with  a  total  value  of 
$3;l.-i77.120  for  the  year  1921,  the  increase  being'  due  to  continued  activ- 
ity in  all  building  and  construction  operations  which  followed  the 
release  of  war-time  restrictions.  In  most  cases  in  1922,  increased  ton- 
nages were  sold,  but  at  lower  unit  prices. 

Deposits  of  granite,  marble  and  other  buiUling  stones  are  distributed 
widely  throughout  tliis  state,  and  transportation  and  other  facilities 
are  gradually  being  extended  .so  tiiat  tiie  growing  demand  may  be  met. 
Tlie  largest  single  item,  cement,  has  had  an  interesting  record  of 
growth  since  the  inception  of  the  industry  in  California  a])0Ut  1891. 
Not  until  1904  did  the  annual  value  of  cement  produced  reach  the 
million-dollar  mark,  following  which  it  increased  500%  in  nine  years; 
though  from  1914  to  1918  there  was  a  falling  otT  common  to  all  build- 
ing materials.  The  1921  output  esta])lished  a  new  high-level  mark, 
both  in  quantity  and  value.  The  quantity  sold  in  1922  was  greater 
than  in  1921,  but  the  total  value  less,  owing  to  drop  in  price. 

Crashed  rock  production  is  yearly  becoming  more  worthy  of  con- 
sideration, due  to  the  strides  recently  taken  in  the  use  of  concrete,  as 
well  as  to  activity  in  the  building  of  good  roads.  Brick,  with  an  aver- 
age annual  output  for  a  number  of  years  worth  approximately 
$2,000,000,  had  difficultly  in  holding  its  own,  due  to  the  popularity  of 
cement  and  concrete.  In  1920,  however,  the  sales  increased  to  nearly 
double  the  previous  record  figure  of  the  year  1907,  with  only  a  slight 
decrease  in  1921 ;  but  1922  showed  an  advance  to  new  record  figures. 
This  item  will,  no  doubt,  continue  to  be  an  important  one,  and  of 
course  a  market  for  fire  and  fancy  brick  of  all  kinds  will  never  be 
lacking. 

Fifty-five  counties  contributed  to  this  structural  total  for  1922,  and 
there  is  not  a  county  in  the  state  which  is  not  capable  of  some  output 
of  at  least  one  of  the  materials  under  this  classification. 


68 


MlNliKAI/    INDUSTRY    OF    CAUFORNJA. 


The  following  suniinaiy  .sliovvs  the  value  of  the  stnietiiral  materials 
produced  in  California  during-  the  years  11)21-1922,  witli  increase  or 
decrease  in  each  instance. 


1921 

1922 

Increase+ 

Becrease— 

Value 

Amount 

Value 

Amount 

Value 

Bituminoue  roclc 

Brick    and    tile 

8,298  tons 

$43,192 

6,570,875 

18.072,120 

6,870 

725,901 

610,619 

511,102 

98,393 

1,294 

2,112 

4,624  tons 

8,962,135  bblsi. 
379  tons 

$13,570 

7,994,931 

16,524,056 

6,334 

676,643 

671,747 

594,665 

127,792 

3,320 

1,100 

•• 

10,377,783 

$29,622- 
2,424,116+ 
1.518.064— 

Cement   

7,4M,221  bbls. 
347  tons 

Ohromitc   --    - 

536— 

Granite  

49,258— 

Linio  -  - 

463,534  bbls. 
47,837  tons 
30,232  cu.  ft. 
2,569  cu.  ft. 
10.150  eu.  ft. 

578,748  bbls. 
65.637  tons 
38,321  cu.  ft. 
10,950  cu.  ft. 

900  cu.  ft. 

• 

61,128+ 

Magnosite    --  --- 

83,563+ 

Marble .. 

29,397+ 

Onyx    .    

2,026+ 

Sandstone    

Slate  .    ..    -  . 

1,012- 

•        + 

Stone,  miscellaneous 

7,834,640 

2,543,143+ 



Total    values 

$33,477,120 

$36,992,001 

Net   increase 

$3,514,881+ 

•Concealed  under  'Unapportioned.' 


ASPHALT. 


Bihliograplnj :  State  Mineralogist  Keports  VII,  X,  XII-XV  (inc.), 
XVII,  XVIII.     Bulletins  16,  82,  63,  67,  69,  91. 

Asphalt  was  for  a  number  of  years  accounted  for  in  reports  by  the 
State  Mining  Bureau,  because  in  the  early  days  of  the  oil  industry, 
considerable  asphalt  was  produced  from  outcroppings  of  oil  sand,  and 
Avas  a  separate  industry  from  the  production  of  oil  itself.  However, 
at  the  present  time  most  of  the  asphalt  comes  from  the  oil  refineries, 
which  produce  a  better  and  more  uniform  grade ;  hence,  its  value  is  not 
now  included  in  the  mineral  total,  as  to  do  so  would  be  in  part  a  dupli- 
cation of  the  crude  petroleum  figures.  Such  natural  asphalt  as  is  at 
present  mined  is  in  the  form  of  bituminous  sandstones,  and  is  recorded 
under  that  designation. 


BITUMINOUS  ROCK. 
Bihliograplnj:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  XII,  XIII,  XV,  XVII, 

xviii. 

The  manufacture  of  asphalt  at  the  oil  refineries  has  almost  eliminated 
the  industry  of  mining  bituminous  rock,  but  small  amounts  of  the 
latter  are  still  used  occasionally  for  road  dressing.  The  production 
during  1922  from  quarries  in  Santa  Cruz  and  Santa  Barbara  counties 
was  4.624  tons,  valued  at  $13,570,  compared  wuth  8,298  tons  and 
$43,192  in  1921. 


STATISTICS   OP   ANNUAL,   PRODUCTION. 


69 


The  following  tabulation  shows  the  total  amount  and  value  of 
bituminous  rock  quarried  and  sold  in  California,  from  the  records 
compiled  by  the  State  ^Mining  Bureau,  annually  since  1887: 


Tear 


1887 
1888 
1889 
1890 
1891 
1892 
1893 
1894 
189.5 
1896 
1897 


1899 

1900 
1901 
19f>2 
1903 
1904 
1905 


Tons 


Value 


36,000 

§160,000 

1906 

50,000 

257,000 

UK)7 

40,000 

170,000 

1908 

40.000 

170,000 

1909 

39,962 

154,164 

1910 

24,000 

72,000 

1911 

.32,000 

192.0.36 

1912 

31,214 

115,193 

1913 

38,921 

121,-586 

1914 

49.4.56 

122,500 

1915 

4.5.470 

128,173 

1916 

46.836 

1.37,-575 

1917 

40.321 

116,097 

1918 

2.5,306 

71,495 

1919 

2AM2 

66.3.54 

1920 

33,490 

4-3.411 

1921 

21,944 

.5-3.106 

1922 

45.280 

175.680 

24,753 

60,436 

( 

Year 


Tons 

Value 

16,077 

§45,204 

24,122 

72,835 

30,718 

109,818 

34,123 

116,436 

S7M7 

165,711 

75.125 

117,279 

44,073 

87,467 

37,541 

78,479 

66,119 

166,618 

17,789 

61.468 

19,449 

66.561 

.5,.590 

18,-580 

2,561 

9,067 

4,614 

18,537 

5,450 

27,825 

8.298 

43,192 

4,624 

13,570 

Totals 1,172,825  $3,605,453 


BRICK  and  TILE. 

Bihlioaraphir.  State  :\rineraloe:ist  Reports  YIII,  X,  XII-XV  (inc.), 
XVII,  XVIII.    Bulletin  38.    Preliminary  Report,  No.  7. 

Bi-icks  of  many  varieties  and  in  important  quantities  are  annually 
7)i-odueed  in  California,  as  might  be  expected  in  a  state  with  such 
diversified  and  widespread  mineral  resources.  The  varieties  include 
common,  fire,  pressed,  prlazed.  enamel,  fancy,  vitrified,  and  others. 
So  far  as  possible,  the  different  kinds  have  been  segregated  in  the 
talnilation  herewith  accompanying. 

AVe  also  include  under  this  heading  the  various  forms  of  hollow 
building  'tile'  or  blocks.  The  application  of  these  tile  to  residence 
construction  as  well  as  to  other  structures  is  growing;  and  their  total 
value  for  1922  shows  a  50%  increase  over  that  for  1921. 

The  aggregate  value  for  all  kinds  of  brick  in  1922  shows  an  increase 
of  more  than  40%  over  the  1921  output.  Individually,  the  various 
groups  (except  fire  brick,  which  decreased  -slightly)  made  material 
advances,  and  especiallv  common  brick  which  increased  from  $2,880,124 
in  1921  to  $4,-363.629  "in  1922.  The  total  .sales  of  common  brick  in 
Los  Angeles  County  alone  in  1922  (217,750  M  valued  at  $2,990,151) 
exceeded  the  entire  state's  total  of  common  for  1921  (202.417  M  and 
$2,880,124).  This  item,  of  itself,  is  an  indication  of  the  activity  in 
construction  operations  during  the  past  year. 

The  detailed  figures  of  brick  and  tile  production  for  1922,  by  counties, 
are  given  in  the  following  tabulation.  'Production'  in  this  case  means 
sales  of  product  of  California  manufacture;  and  'value'  is  vet  price  at 
the  works,  f.o.b.  cars,  trucks,  or  l)oats. 

The  detailed  figures  of  brick  and  tile  produeton  for  1922,  by  counties, 
are  shown  in  the  following  tabulation : 


70 


MINERAT.    INDUSTRY    OP   CALIFORNIA. 


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STATISTICS   OP    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


71 


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72 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


Brick  and  Tile   Production  of  California,  by  Years. 

Record  of  brick  production  in  the  state  has  been  kept  since  1893  by 
this  Bureau,  the  figures  for  building  tile  being  also  included  since  1914. 
The  annual  and  total  figures,  for  amount  and  value,  are  given  in  the 
following  table: 


Year 


Brick.  M 


Building 

blocks. 

tons 


Value 


1893 

1894 

1895  - 

1896 

1897 - 

1898 

1899 

1900 

1901 

1902 

1903 

1904 

1905 

1906 

1907 

1908 

1909 

1910 

1911  

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915 

191fi 

1917 

1918 

1919 

1920  - 

1921    

1922    

Totals 


103.900 

81.675 

131.772 

24,000 
97.468 
100,102 
125,950 
137,191 
130,766 
169.851 
214,403 
281,750 
286,618 
277,762 
362,167 
332,872 
333,846 
340,883 
327,474 
337,233 
358.754 
270,791 
180,538 
206.96C' 
192,269 
136,-374 
156,328 
245,842 
238,022 
374,853 


6,558,414 


$801,750 

457,125 

672.360 

524,740 

563,240 

571,362 

;  754,730 

905,210 

:  860,488 

'  1,306,215 

I  1.999,546 

1.994,740 

I  2.273,786 

'  2,538,848 

3.438,951 

2,506,495 

3,059,929 

2934,731 

2,638,121 

2,940,290 

2,915.350 

2,288,227 

1,678,756 

2,096,570 

29,348  2,532,721 

34.818  2,363,481 

36.026  3,087.067 

99,208  5,704,393 

67,100  5,570,875 

105,909  7,994,991 

372,409  i  $69,975,088 


CEMENT. 

Bihliograplnf.   State  Mineralogist  Reports  VIII,   IX,  XII,  XIV, 
XV,  XVII,  XVIII.    Bulletin  38. 

Cement  is  the  most  important  single  structural  material  in  the  output 
of  the  state.  During  1922,  there  was  produced  a  total  of  8,962,135 
barrels,  valued  at  $16,524,056,  being  an  increase  in  quantity  but  a  .slight 
decrease  in  value  from  the  record  figures  of  1921.  As  in  the  preceding 
year,  the  output  came  from  nine  operating  plants  in  seven  counties. 
The  average  value,  reported,  decrea.sed  from  $2.44  ])er  Ijjirrcl  in  1921, 
to  .$1.84  in  1922. 

The  cement  industry  is  .so  distributed  in  California  that  it  is  not 
possible  to  apportion  the  details  of  production  to  the  counties  in  which 
the  plants  mj'c  located  without  makiug  i>rivate  business  public.  With 
the  exception  of  San  Bernardino,  no  county  has  more  than  one  cement 
plant,    The  three  operating  plants  in  Spn  Bernardino  County,  in  1922, 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION. 


7:5 


made  a  total  of  2,770,953  barrels  of  cement,  valued  at  ^4,156,430;  the 
balance  coniinsr  from  a  single  jilaiit  in  each  of  the  following:  counties: 
Contra  ('osta,  Kern,  iiiverside,  San  Benito,  Santa  Cruz  and  Solano. 

'Portland'  cement  was  first  commercially  produced  in  California  in 
1891 ;  though  in  1860  and  for  several  years  following,  a  natural 
hydraulic  cement  from  Benicia  was  utilized  in  building  operations  in 


Reinforced  concrete  bridge  over  American  River  at  Folsom,  Sacramento  County, 
California.     Old  steel  bridge  in  background. 

San  Francisco.  The  gro'wiih  of  the  industry  became  rapid  after  1902 ; 
since  which  time  cement  has  continued  to  be  an  important  factor  in 
the  industrial  life  of  the  state.  Although  the  total  cement  figures,  to 
date,  are  not  of  the  same  magnitude  as  those  for  gold  and  petroleum, 
it  is  interesting  to  note  that  the  value  of  California's  cement  yield 
beginning  with  1920  has  since  annually  exceeded  the  value  of  her  gold 
output. 


74 


MINERAL    IXDL'.STKV    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


According  to  reports  of  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey,  California 
ranks  third  as  a  cement  producer,  being  surpassed  by  Pennsylvania 
and  Indiana. 


1923  CEMENT  PRICES  AVERAGE  69Z  AROVE 1913 


Production  21%  Greater  Than  Pnewar  Starxdard, 
Commence  Department    Leeu-'os 


19 


5   19114.  1915  19 


"VSI' 


6  1917  1918  1919  I9Z0  19Z1   mi  1923 

■^m 

■  TO 
60 

■  50 

■  W 

■  30 

■  ZO 

■  10 

■  0 
-  10 

■m 


y 


/^rpc/of-r  vo/y  &  /?r/ce 


t 


PERCENTAGE  INCREASE C+)  OR  DECREASE  C-)  FROM  ISl  3 


A7ont/7/y  Ax/erac^so 

Price 

Prodactioo 

I9iif 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

1919 

1920 

1911 

mz  I9Z3* 

-II 

-6 

+18 

+53 

+65 

+66 

+80 

+52. 

+59   ^9 

-W 

-7 

-1 

+  1 

-11 

-13 

1-9 

+  7 

+24-  +ZI 

♦  First  Poor  Months 
coprpiGKT  lazs  fir  nAiPw  f.  couch,  Washington,  d.c. 


Cement  Production  of  California  by  Years. 

Annual  production  of  cement  in  California  has  been  as  follows : 


Tear 


1891  , 

1892 

1893 

1894 

1895 

1896 

1897 

1898 

1899 

1900 

1901 

1902 

1903 

1904 

1905 

1906 

1907 


Barrels 


Value 


5,000 
5.000 


8,000 
16,383 

9.500 

18,000 

50,000 

60,000 

52.000 

71.800 

171,000 

640,868 

969.538 

1.265,553 

1,286,000 

1.613,563 


$15,000 
15.000 


21,600 

32,556 

28,250 

66,000 

150,000 

180.000 

121,000 

159,842 

423,600 

968,727 

1,539,807 

1,791,916 

1.941.250 

2,585,577 


Tear 


Barrels 


1908 
1909 
1910 
1911 
1912 
1913 
1914 
1915 
1916 
1917 
1918 
1919 
1920 
1921 


1,629,615 

3.779.205 

5.453.193 

J  6.371,369 

'  6,198,634 

6.167.806 

5,109.218 

4.918.275 

5.299.507 

5,790.734 

._. -.  4,772,921 

4.645.289 

6.709.160 

7.404.221 

1922 8.962.135 


Value 


$2,359,692 

4.969,437 

7,485,715 

9,085,625 

6,074,661 

7,743.024 

6,558,148 

6,044,950 

6,210,293 

7,544,282 

7,969.909 

8,591.990 

14.962.945 

18,072,120 

16,524,056 


Totals 89,453,487     $140,236,962 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNIAI,    PRODUCTION.    .  7o 

CHROMITE. 

Bibliofjniphii:  Stat.'  Miiu-ralo^rist  Keports  IV,  XII,  XIII.  XIV, 
XV^  X\'h,  XVill.  Bulletins  8S,  7G,  91.  Prelim iiiarv  Report 
3  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  430.    Wm.  &  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  114,  p.  552. 

Chromic  iron  ore,  or  eliromite,  to  the  amount  of  312  short  tons  of  all 
grades  (or  371)  tons,  reealculated  to  a  basis  of  45%  Cr.OJ,  valued  at 
$6,334  f.  o.  b.  shipping  jjoint  was  sold  in  California  during  the  year- 
1!)22.  As  in  1921,  there  were  but  three  producers  who  reported  sales 
last  year,  comi)ared  with  the  high  nuirk  of  236  in  1918,  since  which 
year  the  number  has  steadily  decreased,  owing  to  importations  of 
foreign  ore  which  can  be  landed  at  the  consuming  centers  cheaper.  The 
ore  shipped  in  1922  analyzed  from  50.4%  to  55%  CrgOa,  and  brought 
from  $18  to  $26.50  per  ton.  The  pnncipal  production  was  in  Placer' 
County,  and  a  small  amount  also  from  San  Luis  Obispo  County  and 
was  utilizctl  both  for  refractory  and  for  chemical  purposes. 

Occurrence. 

Until  1916,  when  some  shipments  were  made  from  Oregon  and 
smaller  amounts  from  ^laryland,  Wyoming  and  Washington,  practi- 
cally our  only  domestic  production  of  chromite  for  many  years  came 
from  California.  From  1820  to  1860  the  deposits  in  Pennsylvania  and 
Maryland  sui)plied  the  world's  consumption. 

Chromite  is  widely  distributed  in  Califoi-nia,  the  principal  produc- 
tion, thus  far,  having  come  from  El  Dorado.  San  Luis  Obispo,  Del 
Norte,  Shasta,  Siskiyou,  Placer,  Fresno,  and  Tuolumne  counties.  In 
1918  a  total  of  29  counties  contributed  to  the  state's  output.  There 
are  two  main  belts  in  California  yielding  this  mineral,  one  along" 
the  Coast  Ranges  from  San  Luis  Obispo  County  to  the  Oregon  line, 
including  the  Klamath  ^Mountains  at  the  north  end,  and  the  other  in 
the  Sierra  Nevada  from  Tulare  County  to  Plumas  County.  Chromite 
occurs  as  lenses  in  basic  igneous  rocks  such  as  peridotite  and  pyroxe- 
nite.  and  in  serpentines  which  have  been  derived  by  alteration  of  such 
basic  rocks.  For  the  most  part,  so  far  as  developments  have  yet 
shown,  the  len.ses  have  proved  to  be  small,  relatively  few  of  them 
yielding  over  100  tons  apiece.  A  notable  exception  to  this  was  the 
deposit  on  Little  Castle  ("reek,  near  Dunsmuir,  from  which  upwards 
of  15,000  tons  was  shipped  l)ef()re  it  was  exhausted.  Deposits  worked 
in  Del  Norte  County  during  1918  promised  well  for  a  large  tonnage. 
On  the  whole  the  orebodics  in  the  northwestern  corner  of  the  state 
appear  to  average  larger  in  size  than  tlic  chromite  lenses  in  other  parts 
of  California. 

Concentration  became  an  accomplished  fact  in  several  localities,  thus 
utilizing  some  of  the  disseminated  and  lower-grade  orebodies  whiclT 
have  been  found.  In  fact,  an  important  part  of  the  1918-1920 
production  came  from  that  source. 

Economic   Conditions. 

Chromite  is  one  of  spvci'al  of  California's  ndncrals  most  atfected  by 
the  economic  conditions  ])rought  about  by  the  European  war.     The 


76 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OP    CALIFORNIA. 


major  portion  of  our  domestic  requirements  for  chrome  is  for  con- 
sumption in  the  steel  mills  of  the  East.  Formerly,  most  of  that  used 
was  imported  from  Rhodesia  and  New  Caledonia,  and  they  are  still, 
with  the  addition  of  India,  the  more  important  sources.  The  reports  of' 
the  U.  S.  Department  of  Commerce  show  the  foreign  imports  of  chromic 
iron  for  the  nine  rears  1013-1922,  inclusive,  to  have  been  49,772; 
75.-155;  115,886;  72*063;  100,142;  61,404;  150,  275;  81,836  and  90,081 
long  tons,  respectively.  The  average  price  of  imports  in  1922  was 
$8.23  per  ton. 

The  major  consumption  of  chromic  ore  is  for  use  as  a  refractory 
lining  in  smelting  furnaces  for  steel  and  copper.  A  smaller  portion 
is  used  in  the  preparation  of  ferro-ehrome  for  chrome-steel  alloys. 
Some  of  the  California  product  in  1916-1918  was  converted  into  ferro- 
chrome  in  the  electric  furnaces  of  the  Noble  Electric  Steel  Company 
at  Ileroult,  California,  and  some  of  it  was  similarly  reduced  in  electric 
furnaces  at  Niagara  Falls,  New  York.  A  small  amount  of  high-grade 
ore  is  utilized  in  preparation  of  chromates  for  tanning. 


Total   Chromite   Production  of  California. 

Production  of  chromite  in  California  began,  apparently,  about  1874, 
principally  in  San  Luis  Obispo  County.  There  was  considerable 
activity  from  1880  to  1883,  inclusive,  and  a  total  of  23,238  long  tons 
(or  26,028  short  tons),  valued  at  $329,924  was  shipped  from  that 
county  up  to  the  beginning  of  1887.  Some  ore  also  was  shipped  from 
the  Tyson  properties  in  Del  Norte  County.  The  tabulation  herewith 
shows  the  output  of  chromite  in  California,  annually,  including  the 
earliest  figures  so  far  as  they  are  available.  The  figures  from  1887  to 
date  are  from  the  records  of  the  State  Mining  Bureau : 


Year 


Tons 


1874-1886    (San   Luis 
Obispo  Co.)  __. 

1887 

1888 

1889 

1890 

1891  

1892 

1893 

1894 

1895 

1896 

1897 

1898 

1899 

1900 

1901  

1902 

1903 

1904 


26,028 
3,000 
1,500 
2,000 
3,59i) 
1,372 
1,500 
3,319 
3,680 
1,740 
786 


Value 


$329,924 
40,000 
20,000 
30,000 
53,985 
20,580 
22,500 
49,785 
39,980 
16,795 
7,775 


140 

1,400 

130 

1,950 

315 

4.725 

150 

2,250 

123 

1,845 

Year 


Tons 


Value 


1905 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1910 
1911 
1912 
1913 
1914 
1915 
1916 
1917 
1918 
1919 
1920 
1921 
1922 


40 

$600 

317 

2.859 

302 

6.040 

350 

6.195 

436 

5.309 

749 

9,707 

935 

14.197 

1,270 

11,260 

1,180 

12,700 

1,517 

9.434 

3.725 

38.044 

48.943 

717,244 

52.379 

1,130,298 

73,955 

3,619,497 

*4.314 

97.161 

1,770 

43.031 

347 

6,870 

379 

6334 

Totals ;     242,290  I  $6,410,827 


•Recalculated  to  45  per  cent  CraOs,  beginning  with  1919. 


STATISTICS   OK   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  77 


GRANITE. 

Bihiioijntphif :  State   .Miiici'alogist  Reports  X.  XII-XVIII   (inc.), 
Bulletin  38. 

Ill  llie  statist  icjil  i-t'|»nrts  of  the  State  Minijiu  liiu'eaii  i'ur  seveial 
years  previous  to  l!)l(i.  ui-anite  was  recorded  as  a  subdivision  under 
'Stone  Industry*  oi-  undei-  'Miscellaneous  Stone.'  Since  ]91G,  we  liave 
given  it  a  separate  Jieadinii'.  as  lias  always  been  doue  with  niai'l)le  and 
sandstone.  ("rnslied  i-ock.  nil)ble.  ;nid  pa\iii<i-  blocks  ilei'ived  fi-oni 
granite  (juai-iies  ai-e  continued  under  the  heading  of  ']\riscellaneous 
Stone.' 

The  value  of  the  o-ranite  output  for  1921  was  the  lii^hest  of  any  year 
since  18!)2  with  the  exception  of  the  year  1913,  and  was  in  part  due 
to  the  resumption  of  building  construction  following  the  war-time  cur- 
tailment, and  in  part  due  to  the  higher  unit  prices  received  for  the  1921 
ju'oduct.  For  1922  there  was  a  slight  decrease  in  total  value,  although 
there  was  a  small  increase  in  the  quantity  of  building  stone  shipped  but 
at  lower  unit  values. 

So  far  as  possible,  granite  production  has  been  segregated  in  the 
following  table  into  the  various  uses  to  which  tlie  product  was  put.  It 
will  be  noted,  however,  that  a,  portion  of  the  output  has  been  entered 
under  the  heading  'unclassified.'  This  is  necessary  because  of  the  fact 
that  some  of  the  producers  have  no  way  of  telling  to  what  specific  use 
their  stone  was  put  after  they  had  quarried  and  sold  the  same  in  the 
rough. 

Varieties. 

For  building  purposes,  the  granites  found  in  California,  particularly 
the  varieties  from  Kaymond  in  ^ladera  County,  Hocklin  in  Placer 
County,  and  near  Porterville  in  Tulare  County,  are  unexcelled  by  any 
similar  stone  found  elsewhere.  The  (juantities  available,  notably  at 
Raymond  and  Porterville,  are  unlimited.  Most  of  California's 
'granite,'  particularly  that  found  in  the  Sierra  Nevada  Mountains,  is 
tecliuically  'granodioi-ite'  (that  is,  liotli  plagioelase  and  orthoclase 
feldspars  are  present). 

Granites  of  excellent  quality  for  building  and  ornamental  purposes 
are  also  quarried  in  Riverside  and  San  Diego  counties.  Near  Lakeside, 
San  Diego  County,  the  ^le(JiIvray-Rayinond  Ci-anite  Company  of  San 
Francisco  has  taken  over  and  enlarged  operations  at  the  quarry  formerly- 
worked  by  the  Simpson-Pirnie  Company.  This  is  a  fine-grained,  'silver- 
gray'  granite  of  uniform  texture  and  color,  especiall}^  suited  for  monu- 
mental and  ornamental  work. 

The  Fresno  County  stone  is  a  dark,  hornblende  diorite,  locally  called 
'black  granite,'  Avhose  color  permits  of  a  fine  contrast  of  polished  and 
unpolished  surfaces,  making  it  particularly  suitable  for  monumental 
and  decorative  purposes.  There  is  also  a  similar  'black  granite'  in 
Tulare  County,  near  Success. 


78 


MINERAL    INDIJSTKV    OF    CAFilP^OKKlA 


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STATISTICS   OK    ANNFAIi    PRODUCTION. 


79 


Granite    Production    of   California,   by   years. 

Tlic  vjiliie  (it;'  liraiiile  produced,  annually,   .since   1SS7,   has   been   as 
f  ollo\v.s : 


Tear 

Value 

Tear 

Value 

1887 

$150,000 

57,000 

1,329,018 

1,200,000 

1,300,000 

1,000.000 

531,322 

228,816 

224.329 

201,001 

188,024 

147,732 

141,070 

295,772 

519,285 

255,239 

678,670 

467,472 

353.837 

1906 

$344,083 

1888 - 

1907     .      

373,376 

1889 

1908                               

512,923 

1890    

1909                                      

376,834 

1891  

1910                       

417,898 

1892 

1911                                

3.55.742 

1893            

1912                                       

362,975 

1894  

1913               

981,277 

1895 

1914                          — 

628,786 

1896 

1915                                      

227.928 

1897 

1916                                        

535,339 

1898 

1917                            

221,997 

1899 

1918                               -- 

139,861 

1900 

1919                                            

220,743 

1901 

1920                                          

495,732 

1902 

19-^1 

725.901 

1903 

1922  

m 

Total                   

676,&43 

1904 

1905   .. 

$16,866,628 

LIME. 
Tllhlingraphif.  Reports  XIV.  XV.  XVTT.  XVTTT.    Bulletin  38. 

Lime  to  the  amount  of  578,748  barrels,  valued  at  $671,747,  was  pro- 
duced by  seven  plants  in  five  counties  during  1922,  as  compared  with 
463,534  barrels,  valued  at  $610,619  in  1921.  There  were  two  plants, 
each,  in  Kern,  San  l^ernardino,  and  Santa  Cruz  counties,  and  one  in 
Tuolumne  County. 

So  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  segregate  the  data,  these  figures  include 
only  such  lime  as  is  used  in  building  operations.  A  portion  is  hydrated. 
lime.  Limestone  utilized  in  sugar  making,  for  smelter  tiux,  as  a 
fertilizer,  and  other  si)ecial  industrial  uses,  are  classified  under  'Indus- 
trial ]\raterials. '  That  consinncd  in  cement  manufacture  is  included  in 
the  value  of  cement. 

Lime  Production  of  California  by  Years. 

The  following  tabulation  gives  the  amounts  and  value  of  lime  pro- 
duced in  California  b.y  years  since  1894  when  compilation  of  such 
records  was  begun  by  the  State  ^Mining  Bureau : 


Year 

Barrels 

Value 

Year 

Barrels 

Value 

1894 

373,500 
397,754 
302,750 
287,800 
297,860 
299,854 
312,517 
317,383 
44S,664 
493,587 
579,451 
616,995 
689,268 
684,218 
396,386 

$318,700 
386,094 
261,505 
252,900 
254,010 
314,575 
283,«99 
334,688 
869,616 
418,280 
571,749 
.5^,322 
763,060 
756,376 
379,243 

19C9  

1910  - 

520,752 
479,507 
429,587 
522,118 
613,444 
439,961 
356,534 
493,635 
600,730 
436,843 
420,696 
463,144 
463.534 
578,748 

577,824 

1895 

477,683 

1896 

1911 

390,988 

1897 

1912  

464,440 

1808 

1913     

528,547 

1899 

1900 

]914  

1915 

378,663 
286,304 

1901 .      .      . 

1916 -. 

390,475 

1902 -. 

1917        

311,380 

1903 . 

1918 

1919 

461,315 

1904.  -. 

552,043 

1905 

1920 

557,232 

1906 

1907 

1908 

1921  

1922 

Totals . 

610,619 
671,747 

13,220,230     $12,879,077 

80  MINKRAI;    INDUSTRY    OK    CALIFORNIA. 

MAGNESITE. 

Bibliography:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  XII,  XIII,  XIV,  XV, 
XVII.  Bulletin  38.  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bulletins  355,  540 ;  :\Iin.  Res. 
1913,  Pt.  II.  pp.  450-453.  Min.  &  Sei.  Press.  Vol.  114,  p.  237. 
"Magnesite'' — Hearings  l)efore  the  Comm.  on  Ways  and  Means, 
House  of  Repr.,  on  H.  R.  5218,  June  16,  17  and  July  17,  1919. 
Eug.  Soe.  W.  Pcnn..  Vvoo.  1913,  Vol.  29,  pp.  305-388,  418-444. 
Eiig.  &  Min.  .loui'.-Pivss,  Vol.  114.  July  29,  and  Dee.  2,  3922. 

Occurrence. 

INIagnesite  is  a  natural  carbonate  of  magnesium,  and  when  pure  con- 
tains 52.4%  CO.,  (carbon  dioxide)  and  47. 67t.  MgO  (magnesia).  It  has 
a  hardness  of  3.5  to  4.5,  and  specific  gravity  of  3  to  3.12.  It  is  both 
harder  and  heavier  than  caleite  (calcium  carbonate),  and  also  contains 
a  higher  percentage  of  CO;,,  as  caleite  has  but  44%. 

Most  of  the  California  magnesite  is  comparativel.y  pure,  and  is  ordi- 
narily a  ])eautiful,  white,  fine-grained  rock  with  a  conchoidal  fracture 
resembling  a  break  in  porcelain.  The  Grecian  magnesite  is  largely  of 
this  character ;  but  the  Austrian  varieties  usually  contain  iron,  so 
that  they  become  brown  after  calcining.  The  Washington  magnesite 
resembles  dolomite  and  .some  crvstalline  limestones  in  physical  appear- 
ance.    Its  color  varies  through  light  to  dark  gray,  and  pink. 

In  California  the  known  deposits  are  mostly  in  the  metamorphic  rocks 
of  the  Coast  Ranges  and  Sierra  Nevada  IMountains,  being  associated 
with  serpentine  areas.  The  notable  exceptions  are  the  sedimentary 
deposits,  at  Bissell  in  Kern  County  and  at  Afton  in  San  Bernardino 
Count.y.  Several  thousand  tons  have  been  shipped  from  the  Bissell 
deposit;  and  small  shipments  have  been  nuide  from  the  Afton  property. 

The  Washington  deposits  are  associated  with  extensive  strata  of 
dolomitic  limestone.  The  magnesite  there  appears  to  contain  more  iron 
than  most  of  the  California  mineral,  which  makes  it  desirable  for  the 
steel  operators.  However,  recent  experience  has  ])r()ved  that  several 
California  localities  have  sufficient  iron  in  their  magnesite  to  be  service- 
able in  the  steel  furnaces.  This  is  particularly  true  of  the  Refractory 
^lagnesite  Company's  mine  near  Preston  in  Sonoma  County,  the  White 
Rock  JMine  at  Pope  Valley  and  the  Blanco  IMine  in  Chiles  Valley,  Na]ia 
County.  There  is  some  also  at  the  Sampson  Peak  property  in  San 
Benito  County. 

Uses. 

The  ])rincipal  uses  include :  Refractory  linings  for  basic  open-hearth 
steel  furnaces,  copper  rcverberatories  and  converters,  bullion  and  other 
metallurgical  furnaces ;  in  the  manufacture  of  paper  from  w^ood  pulp  ; 
and  in  structural  work,  for  exterior  stucco,  for  flooring,  wainscoting, 
tiling,  sanitary  kitchen  and  hospital  finishing,  etc.  In  connection  Avith 
building  work  it  has  proved  particularly  efficient  as  a  flooring  for  steel 
railroad  coaches,  on  account  of  having  greater  elasticity  and  resilience 
than  'Portland'  cement.  For  refractory  purposes  the  magnesite  is 
'dead  burned' — /.  e.,  all  or  practically  all  of  the  COo  is  expelled  from  it. 
For  cement  purposes  it  is  left  'caustic' — i.  e.,  from  2%  to  10%  of  CO. 
is  retained.  When  dry  caustic  magnesite  is  mixed  with  a  solution  of 
magnesium   chloride    (]\lgCl._,)    in   proper   proportions,    a  very   strong 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNCAI-   PRODT'CTION.  SI 

(•('iiiciit  is  proiliK'cil.  know  11  as  oxxfhloridc  or  Sorcl  eemeiit.  It  is  ai)i)lii'il 
in  a  plastic  form,  which  sets  in  a  few  lioiirs  as  a  tough,  seamless  surface. 
It  has  also  a  very  stronjr  lionding  {)ower.  and  will  hold  firmly  to  wood, 
metal,  or  concrete  as  a  base.  It  may  be  finislied  with  a  very  smooth, 
even  surface,  which  will  take  a  irood  wax  or  oil  i)olish.  As  ordinarily 
mixed  there  is  added  a  cert.iin  i)roportion  of  wood  fiour,  cork,  asbestos, 
or  other  tiller,  thereby  adflim;  to  the  elastic  properties  of  the  finished 
product.  Tts  surface  is  desii-il)ed  as  'warm'  and  '(piiet'  as  a  result  of 
the  ehistie  and  nonconducting  character  of  the  eomposite  material.  The 
cement  is  frequently  colored  l)y  the  addition  of  some  mineral  pigment  to 
the  materials  before  mixing  as  eement. 

The  desiral)le  qualities  of  any  flooring  material  (cost  not  considered) 
are  listed  for  purposes  of  analysis  or  comparison  under  eighteen  heads, 
as  follows:  Cleanliness  (sanitary  (|ualities),  (piietness,  immunity  from 
abrasion  (surface  wear),  resilience,  immunity  from  slip]ieriness,  appear- 
ance, waterproof  character,  plasticity,  warmth  (thermal  insulation), 
life  (immunity  from  deterioration  with  age),  acid-proof  character, 
alkali-proof  character,  fire  resistance,  elasticity,  crushing  strength,  struc- 
tural strength  (rupture),  imnuinity  from  expansion  and  conti'action. 
and  lightness.  The  imi)ortanee  of  these  several  (|ualities  varies  with 
the  varying  re(piirements  to  be  met;  for  instance,  in  some  places,  as  in 
hospitals,  cleanliness  is  one  of  the  ])i'ime  considerations;  in  other  places 
inniuniity  from  abrasion  niiuht  be  one  of  the  ])rincipal  requisites.  As 
1(»  most  of  these  ((ualities  the  conclusion  is  reached  that  tlie  magnesia 
eeiiient  affords  one  of  the  most  satisfactory  flooring  materials  for  many 
purposes,  such  as  in  kitchen,  laundry,  toilet  and  bathrooms,  eoi-ridors, 
lar^e  rooms  or  halls  in  put)lic  or  other  buildings,  including  hospitals, 
factories,  shops  and  restaurants. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  the  material  is  steadily  coming  into  more 
.•reneral  recoiinition  and  favor  for  these  uses.  For  a  few  special  uses  it 
is  more  or  less  dis( pud ifiinl ;  as  an  instance,  it  is  not  suited  for  construc- 
tion of  swimming  tanks  or  for  conditions  of  ])ermanent  wetness,  since 
under  constant  immersion  it  gradually  softens,  although  it  is  said  to 
withstand  intermitteni  wetting  and  dining  and  is  recommended  i'oi' 
slutwer  baths.  Naturally  it  is  not  acid-proof  and  not  wholly  alkali- 
l)roof,  which  miulit  be  a  disadvantage  in  use  for  laboratory  floors  and 
tables;  but  these  are  rather  special  re(|uirements.  Its  cost  per  square 
foot  is  given  (in  li)13')  as  25  to  3.'3  cents,  depending  on  area,  which  is 
estimated  to  be  lower  than  marble,  cork,  rubber,  clay  oi-  mosaic  tile, 
slate  or  terrazzo.  although  more  ex|)ensi\-e  than  wood,  asphalt,  linoleum 
(»r  Portland  cement. 

In  the  discussion  of  the  subject  (see  Bibliography)  the  causes  of 
failure  ar(>  ascribed  to  uncertain  climatic  changes,  lack  of  unifoi-mify  in 
the  mixtures  used,  lack  of  care  on  the  part  of  those  handling  the  mate- 
rials, po.ssible  deterioration  of  materials  used  through  exposure  (either 
before  or  after  mixing),  lack  of  proper  preparation  of  foundations  on 
which  the  material  is  to  l;e  laid,  and.  as  a  verv  important  factor,  expe- 
rience or  nouexi)erience  in  the  manipulation  or  actual  laying  and  trow- 
eling of  the  material.  Data  concerning  the  percentages  of  magnesium 
chloride  and  of  ground  calcined  magnesia  and  data  concerning  the  char- 
acter and  ([uantity  of  filler  and  color  added  to  the  commercial  prepara- 
tions are  naturally  guarded  as  trade  secrets  by  the  firms  alread.y  In  the 

6 — 2S547 


82  MINERAL  INDUSTRY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

business.  The  examination  and  standardization  of  the  raw  materials 
used,  and  of  acceptable  filler  materials,  and  the  establishment  of  stand- 
ard proportions  for  the  mixtures  would  seem  to  be  about  the  only- 
satisfactory  way  of  attacking  the  problem. 

The  condition  of  the  calcination  of  magnesite  for  cement  uses  is 
important,  as  the  same  material  may  undoubtedly  be  greatly  varied  in 
its  reacting  properties  by  differing  treatment  in  the  kiln.  It  is  gener- 
ally agreed  that  the  magnesite  for  cement  use  must  be  comparatively 
free  from  lime,  as  lime  has  a  greater  tendency  to  reabsorb  water  and 
carbon  dioxide  than  the  magnesia,  thereby  causing  swelling,  and  is 
therefore  not  so  permanent  in  the  completed  cement  as  a  pure  magnesia 
material.  The  fillers  used  may  constitute  10%  to  40%  of  the  whole 
cement,  and  commonly  consist  of  ground  marble,  sand,  sawdust,  cork, 
asbestos  or  other  materials.  As  an  example  of  the  fornuilas  used  in 
mixing  such  cements  the  following  are  ciuoted:^ 

2Iijrturcs  for  the  underlying  or  coarser  layer. 
[Parts  by  weisrht.] 

1.  15  parts  magnesia. 

10  parts  magnesium  chloride  solution,  20°  Baum^. 
10  parts  moist  sawdust. 

(Sets  in  36  hours.) 

2.  10  parts  magnesia. 

10  parts  magnesium  chloride  solution,  28°  Baum«''. 

0  parts  sawdust. 

(Sets  in  16  hours.) 

3.  20  parts  magnesia. 

15  parts  magnesium  chloride  solution,  20°   Baume. 

4  parts  ground  cork. 

(Sets  in  24  hours.) 

4.  5  parts  magnesia. 

3  parts  magnesium  chloride  solution,  20°  Baume. 

5  parts  ashes. 

(Sets  in  24  hours.) 

Mixtures  for  overlying  or  surface  layers. 

IParts  by  weight.] 

1.  40  parts  magnesia. 

33  parts  magnesium  chloride  solution,  19°  Baum^. 
10  parts  asbestos  powder. 
5  parts  wood  flour. 

1  part  red  ocher. 

(Sets  in  24  hours.) 

2.  25  parts  magnesia. 

25  parts  magnesium  chloride,  21°  Baum€. 

4i  parts  wood  flour,  impregnated  with  4J  jiarts  Tei"pentinharzlosung. 

15  parts  j-ellow  ocher. 

(Sets  in  30  hours.) 

The  magnesite  used  is  the  fine-ground  calcined  (not  dead-burned) 
of  certain  specified  kinds  or  place  of  derivation  regularly  sold  for 

•Scherer,  Robert — Der  Magnesit,  sein  Vorkommen,  seine  Gewinnung  und  technische 
Verwertung,  pp.  216-217,  A.  Hartleben's  Bibliothek,  Wien  und  Leipzig,  1908. 


STATISTICS   OF    x\NNl\Mi    PRODUCTION.  83 

plastic^  purposes.  This  material  eomnionly  comes  in  paper-lined  casks, 
barrels  or  box<^s.  in  which  form  it  is  fairly  permanent,  but  it  deteriorates 
by  exposure.  al)s()rbin(r  carbonic  acid  and  moisture  from  the  air.  If 
carefully  handlcil  it  can  i)i'obably  be  kept  unopened  a  year  or  more,  but 
it  should  be  used  within  a  few  weeks  after  l)eing  opened,  even  under 
most  favorable  conditions. 

Tlic  use  of  mauiiesia  cement  has  been  suggested  as  a  protecting  coating 
for  mine  timbers,  particuhirly  against  the  fire  hazard.  Tlie  necessary 
(|ualitics  for  any  substance  for  such  purpose  have  been  summarized  as 
follows :  It  should  be  resistant  to  abra-sion,  and  to  impact  and  struc- 
tui-al  stresses.  It  shoidd  ])e  dura])le  when  subjected  to  the  action  of  the 
elements,  and  stal)le  to  any  minor  derangements  of  the  base  on  which 
it  is  placed.  It  nuist  be  relatively  unaffected  by  changes  in  tempera- 
ture, by  the  action  of  water,  and  should  adhere  to  the  material  on  which 
is  it  placed,  and  it  should  also  be  free  from  shrinkage  cracks  due  to 
setting  up  the  material,  and  have  the  alnlity  to  resist  fire.  I\Iagnesite 
cement  appears  to  fulfill  the  various  conditions  thus  outlined. 

It  is  stated  that  some  metallic  nuignesiuiii  has  been  prepared  eleetro- 
lytirally  at  Niagai'a  Falls  fi-om  magiu'site. 

For  refractory  purposes  the  calcined  magnesite  is  largely  made  up 
into  bricks,  similar  to  fire-brick  for  furnace  linings.  It  is  also  used 
unconsolidated,  as  'grain'  magnesite.  For  such,  an  iron  content  is 
desirable,  as  it  allows  of  a  slight  sintering  in  forming  the  brick.  Dead- 
burned,  ])ure,  magnesia  can  not  be  sintered  except  at  very  high  tempera- 
tures ;  and  it  has  little  or  no  plasticity,  so  that  it  is  hard  to  handle.  Its 
plasticity  is  said  to  be  improved  by  using,  with  it  some  partly  calcined 
or  caustic  magnesite.  Heavy  pressure  will  bind  the  material  sufficiently 
to  allow  it  to  be  sintered. 

A  coating  of  crushed  magnesite  is  laid  on  hearths  used  for  heating 
steel  stock  for  rolling,  to  prevent  the  scale  formed  from  attacking  the 
fire-brick  of  the  hearth. 

Imports  and    Domestic   Production. 

Reports  of  the  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Foreign  and  Domestic  Commerce 
show  ini])orts  of  calcined  magnesite  to  have  been  172.591  long  tons  in 
IDllJ;  114,7-17  in  11)14,  and  63,847  in  1915;  most  of  it  coming  from 
Austria-Hungary  and  some  from  Greece.  For  the  same  years  the  pro- 
duction of  crude  (from  2  to  2^  tons  of  crude  ore  required  to  yield 
one  ton  of  the  calcined)  magnesite  in  California  (the  sole  producer  of 
those  years,  in  the  United  States)  was:  9632  short  tons,  11,438  tons, 
30.721  tons,  respectively.  For  1916  the  California  output  leaped  to 
154,052  tons  of  crude  and  to  209,648  tons  in  1917,  but  has  dropped 
considerably  since  then  on  account  of  resumplion  of  foreign  im|)orta- 
tions,  which  totaled  52,483  long  tons  in  1921,  valued  at  $776,384,  being 
then  admitted  duty  free.  Shipments  from  Washington  were  begun 
late  in  1916;  and  during  the  following  three  years  assumed  important 
proportions,  but  only  a  small  tonnage  was  shipped  in  1922. 

The  Tariff  Act  of  1922,  which  became  effective  September  22d,  last 
year,  placed  the  following  import  duties  on  magnesite:  Crude  magne- 
site, -f^f,  per  lb. ;  caustic-calcined  magnesite  |^  per  lb. ;  dead-burned  and 
grain  magnesite,  not  suitable  for  manufacture  into  oxychloride  cements, 
23/40^'  per  lb.;  magnesite  brick,  ^^;  per  lb.  and  10%  ad  valorem.     The 


84  mineratj  industry  op  California. 

fio-nros  of  imports  for  1922,  as  pii])lish('(l  by  tlie  V.  S.  Bureau  of  Foreign 
and  Douiestie  Conniieree,  show  a  total  of  ll!),(i90  long  tons  of  calcined 
ore  valued  at  $2,253,227,  as  compared  with  the  figures  shown  in  the 
preceding  paragraph. 

Output   and   Value. 

In  considering  mineral  production,  the  value  of  the  crude  material  is 
used  so  far  as  practicable.  ]\Iagnesite  presents  a  peculiar  example  of 
a  material  which  previous  to  1916  was  seldom  handled  on  the  market  in 
the  crude  state.  It  is  mainly  calcined  and  ground  ])efore  being  consid- 
ered markctalile.  From  2  to  2h  tons  of  crude  material  are  mined  to 
make  (me  ton  of  the  calcined.  In  tlie  earlier  reports  an  arbitrary  value 
for  the  crude  material  at  the  mine  was  calculated  from  the  above  on  the 
basis  of  the  calcined  value,  there  having  been  very  little  product  shipped 
crude.  On  the  contrary,  however,  considerable  tonnages  since  1916 
have  been  shipped  in  the  crude  state,  contracted  for  at  prices  ranging 
from  .+7  to  $17  per  ton.  f.o.b.  rail  points.  The  average  was  $10.50  per 
ton,  for  1922.     This  is  the  basis  of  the  valuation  used  herein. 

The  production  of  crude  magnesite  in  California  during  the  year 
1922  totaled  55,637  tons,  valued  at  $594,665  f.o.b.  rail-shipping  point. 
This  is  an  increase  over  the  47,837  tons  and  $511,102  in  1!)21. 

The  strong  hope  for  the  future  for  California  magnesite  appears  to  be 
in  the  development  of  the  plastic  business,  particularl.v  in  the  territory- 
west  of  the  Rocky  IMountains  and  possibly  as  far  east  as  the  Mississippi 
River;  and  in  the  manufacture  of  I'efractory  brick  to  be  ulilized  mainly 
by  the  copper  and  lead  smelters  in  the  same  district.  It  is  p()ssil)le  that 
California  magnesite  may  be  sent  via  the  Panama  Canal  to  the  Atlantic 
seaboard ;  but,  on  account  of  our  higher  production  and  transportation 
costs,  it  is  difficult  to  compete  with  the  Grecian  article  at  Atlantic  ports. 

Several  plants  are  reported  making  refractory  brick  here  from  Cali- 
fornia magnesite.  The  ore  from  the  White  Rock  JMine  in  Napa  County, 
and  that  from  the  old  Rolling  (Refractory  Magnesite  Company)  Mine, 
Sonoma  County,  is  a  natural  ferro-magnesite  and  has  found  a  ready 
market  for  refractory  purposes.  Both  of  these  properties  are  at  present 
(September,  1923)  shut  down,  but  similar  material  is  being  shipped 
from  the  Blanco  ]\rine,  Xapa  County,  and  from  the  Sampson  ^line,  San 
Benito  County. 

In  1918,  for  the  first  time  since  Tulare  C*ount.y  became  an  imi)ortant 
producer  of  this  mineral,  it  was  surpassed  in  tonnage  output  for  the 
year,  Init  regained  the  lead  in  1919,  followed  by  Santa  Clara  and  Xapa 
counties,  respectively.  The  same  ranking  was  retained  in  1920;  but 
Santa  Clara  took  the  lead  in  1921.  The  largest  individual  i)roducer  in 
1920-1922  has  been  the  Western  Magnesite  Development  Company,  in 
Santa  Clara  County,  operated  under  lease  by  C.  S.  ]\Ialtby.  A  total  of 
24,091  tons  was  reported  as  shipped  calcined  by  Californian  mines  in 
1922,  representing  approximately  52.205  tons  of  crude  ore. 

Owing  to  increased  building  operations,  and  the  duty  on  foreign 
im])ortations,-  the  outlook  for  magnesite  is  improving.  Research  work 
is  being  conducted  by  the  larger  o]ierators  to  insure  uniformit.y  of 
product,  and  to  work  out  formula'  anil  mixtures  for  its  application  in 
the  plastic  trade.  Present  quotations  (September)  are  reported  at  $14 
per  ton  crude,  f.o.l).  California  points,  and  $35-$40  per  ton  calcined. 


STATISTICS    OP    ANNUAT.    PROOrCTION. 


85 


rrodut'tion  of  i-nulc  iiiaiiiiesitc  for  li>22,  1)\   counties,  is  iiivcii  in  the 
following  table,  with  total  erude  value : 


County 

Tons 

Value 

Siinfii  Plnra - 

28,650 
2,400 

17,22:3 
7,364 

$301,875 

St  M  n  i •<  1  jiim                             -_                    

35.475 

TiUaro                      --      -     

181.842 

Fresno    Nana    San  Benito.  Tuolumne* -    

75,473 

Totals       --           

55,637 

$5^,66.5 

•Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 

,Total    Magnesite   Production   of  California. 

Tiie  first  coniiut'icial  product  ion  of  magnesite  in  California  was  made 
in  the  latter  part  of  ]88()  from  the  Cedar  Mountain  distriet,'  southeast 
|()f  Livermore,  Alameda  County.    Shipments  amounting  to  'several  tons' 
pr  'several  carloads'  wert'  sent  hy  rail  to  New  York;  hut  there  is  appar- 
ently no  exact  record  of  the  amount  for  that  first  year.    The  statistical 
records  of  the  State  ^Mining  Tiureau  began  with  the  year  1887,  and  the 
table  herewith  shows  the  figures  for  amount  and  value,  annually,  from 
\hiit  time.     Siiij)ments  of  magnesite  from  Napa  County  began  in   1S!)1 
from  the  Snowtlake  Mine;  from   tlie  Retl  Mountain  deposits  in  Santa 
'iai-a  County,  in  lS!)i);  and  fi'om  Tuhire  County  in  liXK). 

Production   of    Magnesite   in    California,   Since   1887. 


Tear 


Toni 


600 
600 
600 

600 
1.500 
1.500 
1.093 
1.440 
2,200 
1.500 
1,143 
1,263 
1.280 
2.252 
4.726 
2.830 
1.361 
2.850 
3,933 


Value 


$9,000 

9.000 

9,000 

9.000 

15.000 

15.000 

10.930 

10,240 

17,000 

11.000 

13,671 

19.075 

18.480 

19.333 

43,057 

20.655 

20.515 

9,298 

16.221 


Tear 


1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1910 
1911 
1912 
1913 
1914 
1915 
1916 
1917 
1918 
1919 
1920 
1921 
1922 


Tons 


4,032 

6,405 
10,582 

7.942 
16,570 

8,858 
10512 

9.632 
11,438 
30,721 
154.a52 
209,648 
83,974 
44.696 
83.695 
47.837 
55,637 


Value 


Totals. 


829,502 


$40,320 

57,720 

80,822 

62,588 

113,887 

67,430 

105.120 

77,056 

114,380 

283.461 

1,311.893 

1.976.227 

803,492 

452.094 

1,033.491 

511,102 

594,665 

$7,981,223 


MARBLE. 

BIbliocjraijhi/:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  XII-XV  (inc.),  XVII, 
XVIII.     i^ulletin  :^S.     V.  S.  P.ur.  of  Mines,  Bull.  106. 

Marble  is  widel\-  distribuled  in  California,  and  in  a  considerable 
variety  of  coloi-s  and  grain.  Dui-ing  1922,  production  from  one  oper- 
ator each  in  Imix'rial.  In\"o,  and  San  Dieuo  counties,  and  two  in  Tuol- 
lunne,   amounted  to  38,.'J21   cul)ie   feet,   valued  at  ^]21J[)2,  being  an 


iSee  U.  S.  Gcol.  Surv'.;  Mineral  Resources  of  U.  S..  1886.  pp.  0  and  696. 


86 


MINERAL  INDUSTRY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


increase  botli  in  quantity  and  value  over  the  1921  iigures.  Tliis  is  again 
approaching  what  might  be  considered  the  normal  output  of  earlier 
years,  though  still  far  below  our  possibilities. 

California  has  many  beautiful  and  serviceable  varieties  of  marble, 
suitable  for  almost  any  conceivable  purpose  of  construction  or  decora- 
tion. In  the  decorative  class  are  deposits  of  ou.yx  marble  of  beautiful 
coloring  and  effects.  There  is  also  serpentine  marble  suitable  for 
electrical  swithboard  use. 

Marble   Production  of  California,   by  Years. 

Data  on  annual  production  since  1887,  as  compiled  by  the  State 
Mining  Bureau,  follows.    Previous  to  1894  no  records  of  amount  were 

preserved. 


Marble    colums     (nionoliiliic),    in    Public    Library,    Stockton.    Cal.,    built    in    1893. 
Marble   from    Carrara    Quarry,    Amador    County,    Cal.      Now    being    reopened. 
Photo    by   A.    G.    Dondero,    owner. 


Year 


1887  . 

1888 
1889 
1890 
1891 
1892 
1893 
1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 


Cubic  feet 


Value 


Tear 


38,441 

14,864 

7,88a 

4,102 

8,050 

9.682 

4,103  I 

2,945 

19,305 

84,624 

55,401 

73,303  , 


$5,000 

5,000 

87,030 

80,000 

100.000 

115,000 

40,000 

98,326 

56,566 

32,415 

7,280 

23,594 

10,550 

5,891 

4,630 

37.616 

97,354 

91,208 

129,450 


1906- 

1907  .. 

1908  .. 

1909  .. 

1910  .. 

1911  .. 

1912  .. 

1913  .. 

1914  .. 

1915  -. 

1916  .. 

1917  -. 
191S  .. 

1919  .. 

1920  - 

1921  .. 

1922  .. 


Cubic  feet 


Vain* 


31,400 

$75,800 

37,512 

118,066 

18.653 

47.665 

79.600 

238,400 

18.960 

50,200 

20.201 

54.103 

27,820 

74,120 

41,654 

113,282 

25.436 

48.832 

22.186 

41,518 

25,954 

50.280 

24,755 

62,950 

17,428 

49.898 

2.5,020 

74,482 

29,531 

92,899 

30.232 

98,395 

38,321 

127,792 

Total  value $2,448,592 


"Includes  onyx  and  serpentine. 
•'Includes  onyx. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


.87 


ONYX  and  TRAVERTINE. 

Bihliographij:    State  Mineralogist  Reports  XII-XV  (inc.),  XVII, 
XVIII.     iinlletin  38. 

Ony.x  and  travertine  are  known  to  exist  in  a  number  of  places  in 
California,  but  there  has  been  only  a  small  and  irre.?ular  production 
since  the  year  1896.  As  there  wa-s  but  a  single  operator,  the  Tolenas 
Springs  (juarry,  Solano  fonnty.  in  1918  and  1920.  the  figures  for  those 
years  were  combined  with  those  of  the  marble  output.  In  1922  there 
were  two  operators  in  Solano  County  and  one  in  Mono,  and  a  total  of 
10,950  cubic  feet,  valued  at  $3,320,  was  shipped.  In  the  latter  county, 
the  travertine  deposits  near  Bridgeport  are  being  reopened,  after  an 
idleness  of  some  years,  by  the  Dineen  Marble  Company  of  Oakland. 
Operations  are  also  under  w^ay  at  a  new  quarry  being  opened  up  at 
Kernville  in  Kern  County.  The  Solano  County  material  is,  in  part, 
being  utilized  for  terrazzo. 

Onyx  Production   of  California,  by   Years. 

Production  by  years  was  as  follows : 


Tear 


Value 


Tear 


Value 


1887  $900 

1888 — 900 

1889 900 

1890  .'•  1,500 

1891 !  2,400 

1892  1,800 

1893 27,000 

1894  20.000 


1895 
1896 
1918 
1919 
1920 
1921 
1922 


Total- 


$12,000 
24,000 


1.294 
3,»20 


$96,014 


•See  under  Marble. 


SANDSTONE. 

Blblioqi-aphif.  State  Mineralogist  Reports  XII-XV,  XVII,  XVIII. 
Bulletin  38.    U.  S.  Bur.  of  M.,  Bull.  124. 

An  unlimited  amount  of  high-grade  sandstone  is  available  in  Cali- 
fornia, but  the  wide  use  of  concrete  in  buildings  of  every  character,  as 
well  as  the  popularity  of  a  lighter-colored  building  stone,  has  curtailed 
produetion  in  this  In-anch  of  the  mineral  industry  during  recent  years 
almost  to  the  vanishing  i)oint.  In  1922  two  counties — Santa  Barbara 
and  Ventura— turned  out  900  cubic  feet,  valued  at  $1,100;  compared 
with  10,150  cul)ic  feet  and  $2,112  in  1921.  The  main  feature  of  the 
loss  since  1914  is  the  closing  of  the  well  known  Colusa  quarries,  on 
account  of  the  competition  of  lighter  colored  materials. 


S8 


MINEHAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Sandstone    Production    of   California,   by   years. 

Ainoiiiit  Jiiul  value,  so  J'iir  as  coutaiiicil  in  llic  records  o1'  tliis  liureau, 
are  presented  herewith,  with  total  value  fi-oiu  1887  to  date: 


Tear 


Cubk-  feet 


Value 


1887 — 

1888 

1889 

1890 

1891 

1892 

1893 

1894 

1895 

1896 

1897 

1898 

1899 56,264 

1900 378,468 

1901 266,741 

1902 i     212,123 

1903 i     353.002 

1904 .—      363,487 

1905 302,813 


$175,000 

150,000 

175,598 

100,000 

100.000 

50,000 

26,314 

113,592 

35,373 

28,379 

24,086 

46,384 

103,384 

254.140 

192,132 

142,506 

585,309 

567,181 

483,268 


Tear 


Cubic  feet 


1906 !     182,076 

1907 159,573 


1908 
1909 
1910 
1911 
1912 
1913 


93.301 
79,240 
165,971 
255,313 
66.487 
62,227 


1914 111,691 


1915 
1916 

1917 
1918 
1919 
1920 
1921 
1922 


Total  valiio- 


63,350 
17,270 
31.090 

900 

5.400 

10.500 

10.150 

900 


Value 


$164,068 

148.148 

55.151 

37.032 

80,443 

127,314 

22,574 

27,870 

45,322 

8.438 

10,271 

7,074 

400 

3.720 

2.300 

2.112 

1,100 

$4,095,983 


SERPENTINE. 

liiblhxjrdplin:  State  ^lineralogist  Ke|'<>i't  XV.     P)nlU'tin  ;}8. 

Serpentine  has  not  been  produced  in  ('alifoi'iiia  to  a  ver\-  larj»e  extent 
at  any  time.  A  single  deposit,  that  on  Santa  (Jatalina  Island,  has 
yielded  the  principal  output  to  date.  Some  material  was  shipped  from 
there  in  IJ'IT  and  1918,  Ix'inu'  the  oidy  output  recorded  since  1907.  It 
Avas  used  for  decorative  building  purposes  and  for  electrical  switch- 
boards. As  there  was  but  a  single  operator,  the  figures  were  combined 
with  those  of  marl)le  out})ut  for  those  years. 

Serpentine   Production   of  California,  by  years. 

The  following  table  shows  the  amount  and  value  of  serpentine  from 
1895  as  recorded  by  this  Bureau: 


Year                       Cubic  feet 

Value 

Tear 

Cubic  feet 

Value 

1895 4,000 

1896                                           1.500 

$4,000 
6,000 
2,500 
3,000 
2,000 
2.000 
890 
5.065 
800 

1 
1904    __ 

200 

$2,310 

1905 

1897 2,500 

1898 750 

1899 500 

1900 350 

1901 89 

1902 512 

1903 99 

1906    

847 

1.694 

1907 

1917 

1918 

1919 

Totals 

1,000              3,000 
1                   1 
a                     * 

12.347           $33,259 

^Under  'Unapportioned." 
^See  under  Marble. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNTU,    PKODICTIOX.  89 

SLATE. 

HihJioiimphii :  State  Mineraloirist    Reports  X\'.   XVIII.      Bulletin 
;^8.  '  r.  S.'  Ccoi.  Surv..  Bull.  oHti.     V.  S.  Bur.  of  Mines,  Bull.  218. 

Slate  was  tirst  prt)dueed  in  California  in  1889.  Up  to  and  including!; 
1910  such  production  was  continuous,  hut  since  then  it  has  been  irregu- 
lar. Large  deposits  of  excellent  (piMlity  are  known  in  the  state,  espe- 
cially in  El  Dorado.  Calaveras  and  ^Mariposa  counties,  but  the  demand 
has  been  light  owing  principally  to  competition  of  cheaper  rooting 
materials. 

'Slate'  is  a  tenn  applied  to  a  tine-gi'ained  ro<'k  that  has  a  more  or 
h'ss  perfect  cleavage,  permitting  it  to  be  readily  split  intt)  thin,  smooth 
sheets.  Varieties  differ  widely  in  color  and  have  a  considerable  range 
in  chemical  ami  mineralogical  com])osition.  Excepting  certain  ran; 
slates  of  igneous  oi-igin  (of  which  the  green  slate  of  the  Eureka  (piarry, 
YA  Doratlo  County,  California,  is  an  example)  formed  fi'om  volcanic  ash 
or  igneous  dikes,  slates  have  oi'itiinated  from  sedimentary  deposits  con- 
sisting largely  of  cla.w  By  consolidation,  and  the  pressure  of  super- 
imposed materials,  clays  become  l)etlded  deposits  of  shale.  By  further 
con.solidation  luuler  intense  pressure  and  high  tempei-ature  incident  to 
mountain-building  forces,  shales  are  metamorphosed  to  slates.  The 
principal  mineral  con.stituents  are  mica,  (piartz.  and  chlorite,  with 
smallei-  var.xinu'  amounts  of  hematite,  i utile,  kaolin,  graphite,  feldspar, 
tournuilinc,  calcite,  and  others. 

The  color  of  slate  is  of  economic  importance.  The  common  colors  are 
trra.v.  bluish  gray,  and  black,  though  reds  and  various  shades  of  green 
are  occasionall\'  found. 

The  pernuinency  of  sbite  for  roofing  is  well  known,  it  is  stated  that 
there  are  slate  roofs  in  Penns.vlvania  and  Mar.vland  over  100  years  old. 

'"In  England  and  Wales,  and  in  France,  many  buildings  constructed  in  the  15th  and 
16th  centuries  were  roofed  with  slate,  and  the  roofs  are  still  in  excellent  condition. 
I'here  is  a  record  of  a  cliapel  in  Bedford-on-Avon  in  Wiltsliire,  F-^nghmd,  roofed  with 
slate  in  the  8th  century,  and  after  1200  years  of  climatic  exposure  is  moss-covered 
but  in  good  condition." 

Contrary  to  the  general  impression,  however,  the  major  portion  of 
the  slate  produced  in  the  United  States  is  used  on  the  inside  rather  than 
the  outside  of  buildings.  Its  interior  u.ses  include  stationary  washtubs, 
electrical  switchboards,  and  blackboards. 

A  s(iuare  of  rooting  slate  is  a  sufficient  number  of  pieces  of  any  size 
to  cover  100  scjuare  feet  of  roof,  with  allowance  generally  for  a  three- 
inch  lap.  The  sizes  of  the  pieces  of  slate  making-  up  a  square  range 
from  7  X !)  inches  to  16  x  24  inches,  and  the  number  of  pieces  in  a 
.s(iuare  ranges  from  85  to  686.  The  Ferry  Building,  San  Francisco,  is 
roofed  with  Eureka  slate  from  El  Dorado  County. 

In  California,  at  present,  commercial  output  is  being  i-enewed.  The 
Losh  (luarr.v  near  Placerville,  El  Dorado  Count.v,  was  opened  up  in  1921, 
and  some  material  marketed  in  1922;  but  as  it  was  the  only  produce)-, 
the  figures  are  concealed  under  the  'unapportioned'  item.  The  Pacific 
<|uarrv  at  Ilornitos.  Mariposa  Count.\'.  is  also  being  reo|)eue(l.  ;iiid 
expects  to  make  shii)ments  during  the  current  year. 

'Bowles,  O.,  Slate  as  a  permanent  roofing  material :  U.  S.  Bur.  of  M.,  Reports  of 
Investigations,  Serial  No.  2267,  July,  1921,  p.  4. 


00 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Total    Production  of  Slate   in   California. 

A  complete  record  of  amount  and  value  of  slate  produced  in  Cali- 
fornia follows: 


Tear 

Squares 

Value 

Year 

Squares 

Value 

1889 

4,500 

4,000 

4,000 

3,500 

3,000' 

1,800 

1,3,50 

500 

400 

400 

810 

3,500 

5,100 

4  000 

10,000 

$18,089 

24,000 

24,000 

21,000 

21,000 

11,700 

9,450 

2,500 

2,800 

2  800' 

5.900 

26,2.tO 

?8,2.50 

.30,000 

70,000 

1904          .-     ... 

6,000 
4,000 
10,000 
7,000 
6,000 
6,961 
1,000 
- 

$50,000 

1890 

1905  -              -.     

40,000 

1891 

1906 

100,000 

1892 

1907         ..     --     -      -. 

60,000 

1893 

1908        

60,000 

1894 

1909         --     .. 

45,660 

1895 . 

1910      - 

8,000 

1896 

1911                        

1897 

1915 

1916                _      

1,000 

5,000 

1898 

1899 

1920 

8 

80 

1900 

1921                  _      

1901  

1922                       

* 

* 

1902 

Totals 

1903 

88,829 

$676,479 

*OoncpalC(1  under  'Unapportioned.' 

MISCELLANEOUS  STONE. 

BibliogrriDhii:  State  IMineraloeist  Keports  XII-XVIII. 
38. 


Bulletin 


^  'INIiseellaneous  stone'  is  the  name  used  tlii'ouKliout  this  report  as  the 
title  for  that  hranch  of  the  mineral  industry  coverins;  crushed  rock  of 
all  kinds,  pavinc  blocks,  sand  and  ii'ravel.  and  jiebhles  for  p:rindin2f 
mills.  The  fore»'oino-  are  very  closely  related  from  the  standpoint  of 
the  producer ;  therefore  it  has  been  found  to  be  most  satisfactory  to 
irroup  these  items  as  has  been  done  in  recent  i-eports  of  this  Bureau.  So 
far  as  il  has  been  possible  to  do  so,  crushed  rock  ])roduction  has  been 
subdivided  into  the  various  uses  to  which  the  i)roduct  was  put.  It  will 
be  noted,  however,  a  very  lar<i'e  percentaj^e  of  the  output  has  been 
tabulated  under  the  heading-  'TTnclassified.'  This  is  necessary  because 
of  the  fact  that  many  of  the  producers  have  no  way  of  telling  to  what 
specitic  use  their  rock  was  put  after  they  have  quarried  and  sold  the 
same  to  distributors  and  contractors. 

In  addition  to  amounts  produced  by  commercial  firms,  both  corpo- 
rations and  individuals,  there  is  hardly  a  county  in  the  state  but  uses 
more  or  less  gravel  and  broken  rock  on  its  roads.  Of  much  of  thig, 
particularly  in  the  country  districts,  there  is  no  definite  record  kept. 
Estimates  have  been  made  for  some  of  this  output,  based  on  the  mileage 
of  roads  repaired. 

For  the  year  1922  miscellaneous  stone  shows  an  increase  both  in 
total  tonnage  and  value  over  the  preceding  year,  being  $10,877,783  as 
compared  with  .$7,834,640  in  1.921.  Crushed  rock  showed  a  slight 
decrease  in  average  values  per  ton;  but  sand  and  gravel  increased  in 
average  unit  values  reported.  In  addition  to  building  work  in  the 
cities,  construction  on  several  hydroelectric  power  installations  have 
been  important  factors  contributing  to  the  increase.  Of  these,  mention 
.should  be  made  of  the  lletch  Iletchy  dam  of  San  Franci.sco  on  the 
Tuolumne  River,  and  the  Dom  Pedro  dam  of  the  combined  Modesto- 
Turlock  irrigation  districts  on  the  T,i.inlumne  River.  Highway  con- 
sti-nction  continues  to  utilize  large  tonnages  of  rock,  gravel,  and  cement 
throughout  the  state. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL    PRODl'CTIOX. 


91 


In  1922,  as  has  been  tlic  case  for  sonic  years  past,  Los  Angeles 
County  led  all  others  by  a  wide  inartrin,  with  an  output  valued  at 
$3,891 1.4 <  /  ;  followed  by  Alameda,  second,  with  .i^7(i(>,422 ;  Fivsno,  third, 
:-f (J0(),:U8 :  Contra  Costa,  fourth,  !|>or)9,9ir) :  Saeramento,  tifth,  $412,667; 
and  Riverside,  sixth,  $4()(),r)6(). 

The  followiui,'  is  (lUotcMl.  and  the  charts  reproduced,  from  one  of  the 
trade  journals^  relative  to  tlie  avei'aue  prices  oblaininy-  for  crushed 
rock,  sand  and  gravel,  throughout  the  United  States  during  1922.  The 
results,  ou  tlie  whol(>.  indicate  lariici-  (piantities  used  at  somewhat  lower 
unit  values: 


JAN.         M^R 

GRAVEL 


MAY       JULY 


SEPT       NOV 


/.2S 


/.OO 


$, 


'0.7S 


/^x//7n//n/zr/T^     Ayerc^pr/ce ^  5:^/er/7 pkf^fs /.OO 


of pr/ces 


o.so 


SAN 


-B.^S 


Ay<snsrg<e  pnce «?/  Ce/r^m/p^n/s  /  /3 

Average pr/ce  cff  SooZ/rer/?  ^^^ 

}yes/er/T  p/cr/f/s  /.^S 


^^ercf^g.  ^^^^g    p^^   ^^ 


% 


of  pr/ces 


Ayert^^ pr/ce  arZ 5!fsfer/7 pM/^^s  .SO 
Av^sra^e  pnce  <^^  Cb/r//rf/ p/er/?/s  -SS 
Ayercr^e  pr/ce  cf/^  Sc?i/fAer/r  cf/r<^ 


A^ercr^ 


nesfsr/r  p/crnfs  /.  03 
•"^--i^^/cg  for  </5^ 


^/.£7 


CRUSHED  |TRAP 

'f^f^,  pr/cs  /or  ^S. 


H-^       J 


Af(rx//7fi/m 


"(f/r^ff  of  pr/ces 


TRAP  ROCK 


ROCK 


^2.30 


SCREENINGS 


/ierxf/m/m  rcr/r^  of  pr/ces 


^0.^0--^P.30 


"Sand    and    Gravel. 

"The  general  level  of  prices  for  both  sand  and  gravel  is  lower  than  it  has  been  in 
either  of  tlie  pa.st  two  years,  but  these  products  have  been  subject  to  much  less  varia- 
tion in  price  than  during  HtJl.  In  that  year  gravel  dropped,  as  .sliown  in  the  general 
price  curves  of  roclv  products  a  j'ear  ago,  from  f  1.28  in  January  to  $1.12  in  November, 

'Prices  of  rock  products  in  1922  ;  Rock  Products,  Vol.  XXV,  pp.  102-104,  Dec.  30, 
1922. 


\)-2 


MINERAL    IXDUSTRV    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


wliili'  (luriiii;  l^M  tile  range  was  t'roin  $1.1(1  in  Janu;n\-  to  $1.09  in  November.  A  large 
ninnl)er  uf  plants  reported  a  constant  price  tlii'ouKliout  the  year  on  both  sand  and 
gravel,  iuid  this  fact  accounts  for  the  coniparativelj-  flat  appearance  of  the  two  curves. 

"With  sand  the  average  price  dropped  in  1921  from  98  cents  to  84  cents,  while  in 
1922  the  decline  is  from  83  cents  to  79  cents.  It  is  worth  noting  that  in  both  years 
the  tendency  has  been  downward,  and  that  the  general  level  for  1922  is  lower  than 
for  1921.     During  1920  both  curves  had  an  upward  turn. 

"This  downward  tendency  with  these  two  products  during  two  years  is  due  partly, 
without  question,  to  an  easing  up  of  the  labor  situation  during  that  period.  Early 
1921  prices  still  showed  the  effects  of  1920's  high  labor  costs,  and  as  the  lower  wages 
became  generally  effective  prices  reacted  to  a  lower  level.  An  upward  turn  of  wages 
during  the  last  half  of  1922  has  not  made  itself  felt  in  increased  prices  for  aggregate 
as  it  has  in  the  case  of  cement  and  lime. 

"Probably  another  reason  why  lower  prices  are  possible  is  the  increasing  use  of 
labor-saving  machinery  in  the  industry  with  resulting  lower  costs  of  production.  New 
plants  are  not  only  being  designed  and  built  to  reduce  the  number  of  men  needed,  and 
old  ones  rebuilt  witli  the  same  purpose,  but  they  are  so  planned  as  to  reduce  the  break- 
downs and  the  number  of  hours  the  plant  is  not  operating  because  of  break-downs. 

"With  only  a  few  exceptions,  prices  at  Eastern  plants  remained  particularly  steady 
throughout  the  year.  In  the  Central  and  Soutliern  sections  there  was  a  tendency  to 
vi'ry,  up  at  one  point  and  down  at  another,  while  at  the  Western  plants  prices  reported 
showed  as  a  whole  a  decline  toward  the  end  of  the  season. 

******* 

"Trap    Rock. 

"Crushed  trap  rock,  largely  because  of  its  higher  cost  of  quarrying  and  crushing, 
is  the  most  expensive  of  the  three  more  common  of  the  coarse  aggregates.  Like  grave! 
and  crushed  limestone,  trap  suffered  a  decline  in  general  pri 
also    a   decline    through    the   year    1922.      The   average   price 


rice  level   from    1921,   and 

of   crushed    trap   rock    in 

January.    1922,  was  $1.70  ;   during  the  summer  it  remained  constant  at   $1.59  ;  and   in 

this  same  product  dropped  in  price 


November  it  had  declined  to   $1..56.      During  1921 
from  $1.79  in  January  to  $1.60  in  November. 

"Trap  rock  screenings  dropped  from  $1.25  in  January  to 
May  and  June,  went  back  to  $1.25  in  August  and  finished  the 
and  Nox'ember." 


a  low  point   of   $1.15    in 
year  at  $1.20  in  October 


Paving    Blocks. 

Tlio  i)avin,i:^  block  iiidustrx  lia.s  decreased  materially  of  recent  years, 
almost  tn  the  vanishing  point,  because  of  the  increased  construction  of 
smootlier  pavements  demanded  by  motor-vehicle  traflfic.  The  blocks 
made  in  Solano  County  were  of  basalt :  those  from  Sonoma  are  of 
basalt,  andesito,  and  some  trachyte,  while  those  from  Placer,  Riverside, 
San  Bernardino,  and  San  Dieuo  are  of  crranite. 

Production  in  1922  amounted  to  only  72  ^l.,  valued  at  >{^3,924. 

The  amount  and  value  of  paving  block  production  annually  .since 
1887  has  been  as  follows: 


Tau 


Amount 
M 


Value 


Tear 


Amount 
M 


Valu* 


1887  nO.OOO  $350,000 

1888  10,500  367,500 

1889  7,303  297,236 

1890  7,000  245,000 

1891  5.000  150,000 

1892  *3,000  96,000 

1893  2,770  96.950 

1894  2.517  66,981 

1895  2.332  73,338 

1896  ,  4.161  77.584 

1897  I  1.711  35.235 

1898  I  1,144  :  21.725 

1899  305  7,861 

1900  1,192  23,775 

1901  ;  1,920  41,075 

1902  3,502  112.437 

1903  4,854  134.642 

1904 _„.;  3.977  161,752 

190.J ]  3.408  '  134,347 


1906 

1907 

1908 

1909 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

1919 

1920 

1921 

1922 

Totals 


4.203 

4,604 

7,660 

4.503 

4.434 

4.141 

11.018 

6,364 

6,053 

3.285 

1.322 

938 

372 

27 

63 

4 

72 


135.649 


$173.4.32 

199,347 

334.780 

199.803 

198.916 

210.819 

578,355 

363.505 

270.598 

171,092 

54.362 

38.567 

17,000 

1.350 

3.155 

280 

3.924 


$5,312,723 


♦Figures  for  1887-1892  (inc.)  are  for  Sonoma  County  only,  as  none  are  available 
for  other  counties  during  that  period  ;  though  Solano  County  quarries  were  then  also 
quite  active. 


ST.\TISTICS    ol"    A.N.MAL    I'liODlCTION. 


!).{ 


Grinding    Mill    Pebbles. 

Production  of  pchhlcs  for  tiihc  and  jrrindin<r  mills  hetjan  coinnu'r- 
eially  in  Califoi-nia  in  1!)!.").  Owinir  to  the  dev-reasiMl  imports  ami 
hiirlier  pricos  of  l^i'liiium  and  other  European  Hint  pel)l)les,  due  to  the 
war,  there  was  a  serious  in(|uiry  for  domestic  .sources  of  supply.  One  of 
the  shipments  made  in  that  year  was  of  pel)l)les  selected  from  ^old- 
drediter  tailings  in  Sacramento  County,  foi-  use  in  a  ^I'lild  mill  in  Amador 
County  rmployinir  Ilardin^c  mills. 

The  important  development  in  this  item,  however,  took  place  in  San 
Dieiro  County.  At  several  })oints  alono;  the  ocean  shore  fi-om  Encinit<us 
south  to  near  San  [3ie<j;o,  there  are  beaches  of  washed  pebbles  varying 
from  1  inch  to  6  inches  in  diameter,  which  come  from  conglomerate 
beds  made  up  of  well-rounded  water-worn  pebbles  of  various  granitic 
and  porphyritic  rocks  with  some  felsite  and  Hint.  The  wave  action  has 
broken  down  portions  of  the  clilt's  for  considerable  distances  and 
formed  beaches  of  the  pebbles  which  are  well  washed  and  cleaned  of 
the  softer  materials.  The  rocks  sorted  out  for  shipment  are  mainly 
liasalt  and  diabase,  witii  an  occasional  felsite  and  flint  i)el)ble.  There 
is  a  tough  bla'-k  !)asalt  which  is  stated  to  give  satisfactory  results,  in 
Fre.sno  County  pebbles  havi'  been  selected  from  the  gravel  beds  of  the 
San  Joaf|uin  Kiver  near  Friant.  Shipments  have  been  made  to 
metalluruical  i>hints  in  Califoi'uia,  Xevada,  ^Tontana  and  Ctah. 

lmi)orts  in  1!>1!>,  amounted  1o  17.(i77  lonu'  tons,  valued  at  $25(),()I)(); 
2:^782  tons  and  >t^:^:}S.(i:i()  in  l!)2(l;  !)()()4  tons  and  $ll(),ir)7  in  1!)21  ; 
\4^:^2^  tons  and  .i^l4.').S()5  in  1922.  California  output  for  1!»22  was  ir)71 
Ions,  valued  at  •^7.(128,  an  iiici-ease  over  the  1!)21  tiiiui'cs. 

The  aiiiount  and  value  of  gi-iuding  mill  pel)bles,  annually,  follows: 


Tear 

Tons 

Value 

191.5      .- 

340 

20,232 

21,450 

8.628 

2.607 

2.104 

247 

1.571 

$2,810 

1916 

107,567 

1917          .  .      

90,538 

1918                       .        ..    

61.268 

191S                 -.        --- 

19.272 

1920        -             .                    - 

17,988 

1921       

1,418 

1922             •     .. 

7,628 

Totals 

57,179 

$238,489 

94 


MINERAI;    INDUSTRY   OP    CALIFORNIA. 


Sand  and   Gravel. 


The  distribution  of  the  li)22  output  of  sand  and  gravel,  by  counties, 
is  given  in  the  following  table : 


County 


Tong 


Value 


Alainoda 

Alpine  

Amador  

Butte 

Calaveras   

Contra  Costa 
El  Dorado  — 

Presno    

Glenn  

Humboldt 

Imperial  

Korn  

Lake 

Lassen    


'  "699,863 

--  5,632 

I  12,747 

I  167,653 

'  14,110 

62,136 

2,500 

!  552,041 

'  174,241 

48,988 

j  256,942 

I  35,970 

23,337 

11,823 

Los   Angeles   2,629,631 


Mendocino 
Merced    -— 
Monterey  - 

Napa 

Nevada     .. 
Oiansc   -— 

Plac'jr 

Riverside  - 


14,000 

125,000 

•'120,083 

171,383 

9,607 

251,135 

8,333 

"17,788 


$495,580 

2,800 

7,300 

99,350 

6,929 

24,656 

2,000 

201,094 

91,250 

102,308 

64,56.') 

23,58o 

16,669 

5,850 

2,140,828 

14,000 

79,500 

84,180 

118,664 

6,026 

225,764 

6,800 

5,650 


County 

Sacramento    - 

San  Diego 

San  Joaquin  

San  Luis  Obispo 

San  Mateo  

Santa  Barbara  

Santa   Clara  

Sluista    

Siskiyou  

Solano    

Sonoma   

Stanislaus  

Tuolumne  

Ventura   

Yuba   

Colusa,  Del  Norte,  Inyo, 
Madera,  Mariposa, 
Modoc,  San  Benito, 
Santa  Cruz,  Sierra, 
T  e  h  a  m  a.  Trinity, 
Yolo*  


Tons 


"167,233 
»268,478 

212,690 
28,000 
13,881 
65,500 

193,915 
54,180 
28,005 
27,472 

128,208 

337,462 
72,333 
24,294 

147,447 


138,203 


Value 


$96,425 

29J,448 

87,967 

21,000 

10,411 

51,500 

154,125 

31,344 

12,11? 

11,040 

104,039 

248,462 

78,100 

27,588 

75,960 


148,981 


Totals— 7,312,307      $5,369,854 


•Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 

"Includes  molding  sand.  '  '  " 

••Includes  molding,  core,  building,  cutting,  grinding,  blast  and  filter  sand,  mainly  from  ocean 
beaches. 


Crushed    Rock. 

To  list  the  kinds  and  varieties  of  rocks  utilized  commercially  under 
this  heading  would  l)e  to  run  almost  the  entire  gamut  of  the  classifica- 
tion scale.  ]\Iuch  depends  on  the  kind  available  in  a  given  district. 
Those  Avhich  give  the  most  satisfactory  service  are  the  basalts  and  other 
hard,  dense,  igneous  rocks  which  break  with  sharp,  clean  edges.  In 
many  localities,  rivei'-wash  boulders  form  an  important  source  of  such 
material.  In  such  cases,  combined  crushing  and  washing  plants  obtain 
varying  amounts  of  sand  and  gravel  along  with  the  crushed  sizes.  In 
Sacramento  and  Butte  counties  the  tailings  piles  from  the  gold  dredgers 
are  the  basis  for  like  operations. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION. 


95 


96 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


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98 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Miscellaneous  Stone   Production   of  California,   by   Years. 

The  amount  and  value,  annually,  of  crushed  rock  (including 
macadam,  ballast,  rubble,  riprap,  and  that  for  concrete),  and  sand  and 
gravel,  since  1893,  follow : 


Crushed   R 

ock,  Sand  and  Gravel,  by  Years 

Tear 

Tons        ' 

Value 

Tear 

Tons 

Value 

1893   

371,100 

661.900 

1,254,688 

960,619 

821,123 

1,177,365 

964,898 

789,287 

530,396 

2,056,015 

2,215,625 

2,296,898 

2,624,257 

1,555,372 

2,288,888 

3,99a945 

$456,075 

664,838 

1,095.939 

839,884 

600,112 

814,477 

786,892 

561,642 

641,037 

1,249,529 

1,673,591 

1,641,877 

1,716,770 

1,418,406 

1,915,015 

3,241,774 

1909 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913  -, 

1914 : 

1915 

1916. 

1917 

1918 

1919 

1920 

1921 

1922   

Totals 

5,531,561 

5,827,828 

6,487,223 

8,044,937 

9,817,616 

9.288,397 

10,879,497 

9,951,089 

8,069,271 

6,641,144 

6.919.188 

9,792,122 

10,914,145 

13,049,644 

$2,708,326 

1894 

2,777,690 

1895 

3,610,357 

1896    

4,532,598 

1897 

4,823,056 

1898 

3,960.973 

1899 

4,609,278 

1900 

4,009.590 

1901 

1902 

3,505,662 
3,325,889 

1903 

3,678.322 

1904 

6,782,414 

1905 

7,834,640 

1906 

10..366,231 

1<¥I7 

1908 

145,781.038 

$85,842,884 

A  comparison  of  the  above  table  of  annual  productions  of  these 
materials  with  the  'similar  table  for  cement  (see  ante),  reveals  the  fact 
that  the  important  growth  of  the  crushed  rock  and  gravel  business  has 
been  coincident  with  the  rapid  development  of  the  cement  industry 
from  the  year  1002. 


STATISTICS    OK    AXNI'AI-    I'KOnrCTK  )X.  00 

CilAITI'.R   I'lVH. 

INDUSTRIAL  MATERIALS. 

Bihliofirnphir.  Keports  XIV,  XV.    Bulletin  :58.     Min.  &  Sci.  Press, 
Vol.  114,  March  10.   1!)17.     See  also  under  each  snbstanep. 

The  followintr  tnim-rai  suhstanees  have  been  arbitrarily  ari'anaed 
under  the  ireneral  headini;'  of  Industrial  .Materials,  as  distintiuished 
from  those  wiiich  have  a  elearly  detined  elassitieation,  sueh  as  metals, 
salines,  structural  materials,  etc. 

These  materials,  many  of  wiiieh  are  mineral  earths,  are,  with  four  or 
five  exceptions,  as  yet  jiroduced  on  a  comparatively  small  scale.  The 
possibilities  of  developnuMit  alonj>-  several  of  these  lines  are  large  and 
with  increasing  transportation  and  other  facilities,  together  with  stead- 
ily growinti-  demands,  tlie  future  for  this  l)ranch  of  the  mineral  iiulustry 
in  California  is  promising.  There  is  scarcely  a  county  in  the  state  but 
might  contribute  to  the  output. 

Up  to  within  the  last  few  years,  at  least,  production  has  been  in  the 
ma.jority  of  instances  dei)endent  ui)on  more  or  less  of  a  strictly  local 
market,  and  the  annual  tables  show  the  results  of  such  a  condition,  not 
only  in  the  widely  varying  amounts  of  a  certain  material  produced  from 
year  to  year,  but  in  widely  varying  prices  of  the  same  material.  Fur- 
Hicrmore,  the  (pialily  (.f  this  general  class  of  material  will  l)e  foiuid  to 
tluctuate.  even  in  the  same  deposit.  The  war  in  Europe  affected  some 
of  these  items,  b\it  not  to  the  striking  degree  that  it  did  the  metal 
markets. 

Tlie  more  important  of  these  minerals  thus  far  exploited,  so  far  as 
shown,  by  value  of  the  output,  are  limestone,  mineral  water,  pyrites, 
j)ottery  clays,  diatomaceous  earth,  gypsum,  tale,  and  dolomite.  Two 
new  substances  were  added  t(^  the  commercial  list  in  1922,  namely, 
shale  oil  and  sillimanite. 

This  uroup  as  a  whole  siiowed  a  slight  increase  in  the  total  value 
from  $2,675.4::!8  for  1921  to  $2,884,748  in  1922.  The  principal  losses 
were  by  diatomaceous  earth,  limestone,  silica  and  asbestos.  Important 
increases  were  sho^vn  bv  day.  uy])sum.  mineral  water,  and  p.vrites. 


.100 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF   CALIFORNIA. 


The  iullowing  table  gives  the  eoiupaiative  iigui-e.s  for  the  amounts 
and  values  of  industrial  materials  produeed  in  California  during  the 
years  1921  and  1922 : 


Substance 

1921 

1922 

Increase-l- 

Amount 

Value 

Amount                  Value             Value 

1                     1 

Asbestos  _  . 

410  tons 
901  tons 

$19,275 

4,809 

302,172 

99,155 

28,343 

8,295 

10,954 

* 

78,875 

• 

305,912 

• 

4,748 
367,476 

6,310 
473,735 

50  tons                    $1,800          $17,476— 
3,370  tons                    iSfl«            11  nfi-;- 

Uarytes  

Clay  (pottery)   

Dolomite 

Feld.«par      .. 

225,120  tons 

31,195  tons 

4,349  tons 

1,185  tons 

277,232  tons 

52,409  tons 

4,587  tons 

6,606  tons 

« 
47,084  tons 

• 

W,382  tons 

• 

1,620  tons 
4,276,346  gals. 

613  tons 

151,381  tons 

• 

9.874  tons 

« 

13,378  tons 

473,184           111,012+ 

114,911             15,756+ 

37,109               8  766+ 

Fuller's  earth 

G?ins 

48,7^6             40,461  + 
1,312               9,642— 

Graphite 

Gyi>.sum    - 

* 

37,412  tons 

» 

75,921  tons 

« 

446  tons 
3,446,278  gals. 

406  tons 
110,025  tons 

1            •        + 
188,336           109,461+ 

♦                     *        

282,181  I          23,731— 

Infusorial   and   dia- 

tomaeeous  earths. 

Jjimestone  -  

Lithia - 

•          1           •        

Mineral  paint   

Mineral  water 

Pumice  and  vol- 
canic ash  

Pyrites    -  --      

13,277               8,529+ 

486.424  118,948+ 

4,248               2.062— 

570.425  96,690+ 

Shale  oil .    . 

.                      •        + 

Silica   (sand  and 
quartz)    . .. 

10,569  touis 

49,179 

31,016             18,163— 

Sillimanite -    - 

•          ,            *        + 

Soapstone   and   talc             8,752  tons 
Unapportioned^   

130,078 
726,122 

197,186             67,108+ 
365,658           360,464— 

Total  values . 

82.675.4.^ 

$2,834,748    

. $159,310  + 

Ket  increase    — .  „.'                    -               ' 

•Combined  under  'Unapportioned.' 

^In  1921  includes  graphite,  diatomaeeous  earth  and  lithia; 
ceous  earth,  lithia,  shale  oil,  and  sillimanite. 


in  1922  includes  graphite,  diatoma- 


ASBESTOS. 

Bihliograplii! :  State  ^lineralogist  Reports 
XVI,  XVII,  XVIII.     Bulletins  38,  91. 
Mines  Branch  Bulletin  69.     :\Iin.  &  Sei. 
pp.  531-533".     Eng.  &  :\jin.  Jour.-Press, 
670-677. 


XII.  XIII.  XIV,  XV. 

Canadian  Dept.  of  M., 

Press,  April  10,  1920, 

Vol.  113,  pp.  617-625; 


In  1922  a  total  of  50  tons  of  asbestos  fibre,  valned  at  $1,800,  was 
shipped  from  ]\Iontere.v.  San  Benito,  and  Shasta  counties,  b.v  a  single 
operator  in  each.  This  was  a  considerable  decrease  from  the  410  tons, 
worth  $19,275,  produced  in  1921 ;  due  mainly  to  there  ha^ang  been  no 
shipments  from  Nevada  County  which  has  been  the  principal  producer 
for  several  years  past. 

The  Monterey  Coiint.v  product  was  of  spinning-grade  fibre.  The 
bulk  of  the  yield  Avas  of  short-fibre  mill  grade,  and  was  utilized  mainly 
in  magnesite-cement  stucco,  steam-pipe  covering,  flooring,  composition 
shingles  and  roofing  paper.  The  outlook  for  a.sbestos  becoming  an 
important  industry  in  California  is  promising.  There  are  extensive 
serpentine  areas  in  the  Coast  Ranges,  in  the  Klamath  ^Mountains,  and 
in  several  sections  of  the  Sierra  Nevada,  Mhich  localities  came  to  the 
fore  in  yielding  chromite  during  the  war  period.  As  chrysotile  asbestos 
is  a  fibrous  fonn  of  serpentine,  these  areas  are  all  within  the  range  of 
possible  asbestos  producers.     In  addition  to  the  above-mentioned  pro- 


J 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION.  101 

(lucino:  counties,  ohrysotile  of  good-quality  fil)re.  though  short,  has  also 
l)eon  found  in  Calaveras,  Lake,  Napa,  Shasta.  Siskiyou,  and  Trinity 
founties.  Reports  of  the  V.  S.  C.eoh)gieal  Survey  also  confirm  the 
I)i'()iiiising  (piality  of  the  California  fibre. 

Classification    and   Characteristics. 

The  word  asbestos  (derived  from  tlie  Greek,  nieaninii'  iiieom])ustible) 
as  used  hei-e  ineludes  several  minerals,  from  a  strictly  mineralogical 
standjioint.  There  are  two  main  divisions,  however:  Amiiliil)ole  and 
ehrysotile.  The  fibrous  varieties  of  several  of  the  aniphiboles  (silicates 
chietly  of  lime,  magnesia  and  iron),  notably  ti'emolite  and  actinolite, 
are  called  asbestos.  Their  fibres  usually  lie  ])aral]el  to  tlie  fissures  con- 
taining them.  Ami)hib()h'  asbestos  jiossesses  high  refractory  properties, 
but  lacks  strength  of  fibre,  and  is  applicable  princi])ally  for  covering 
steam  ])ipes  and  boilers.  Chrysotile,  a  hydrous  silicate  of  magnesia,  is 
a  fibi'ous  form  of  sei'pcntine,  and  often  of  silky  fineness.  Its  fibres  are 
formed  at  right  angles  to  the  direction  of  the  fissures  containing  them. 
Chrysotile  fibres,  though  short,  have  considerable  strength  and  elasticity, 
and  may  bp  spun  into  threads  and  woven  into  cloth.  To  bring  the 
highest  market  ]n-ice  asbestos  must  needs  have  a  com])ination  of  proper- 
ties, i.  r.,  length  and  fineness  of  fibre,  tensile  strength  and  flexibility — 
all  combined  with  iufusibilily ;  and  determination  of  the  same  can  only 
l)e  made  by  practical  tests  or  in  the  laboratory.  In  the  two  years  prior 
to  li)]4,  chrysotile  as1)estos  was  sold  at  prices  ranging  from  .$10  to  $250, 
according  to  length  of  fibre  and  quality.  Almost  fabulous  figures  were 
reached  for  extra-long  spinning  fibre  in  1918,  and  proportionate  levels 
for  other  grades.  Prices  have  since  receded  from  those  high  levels; 
but  statements  issued  ])v  some  of  the  important  marketing  concerns 
indicate  that  the  unprofitable  low  prices  of  1912-1914  will  not  again 
obtain  The  extreme  high  values  quoted  for  extra-long  fibre  material 
are  mislnadine"  to  one  looking  for  average  values  in  the  industry.  In 
<'ana(la  the  sliorter.  'iiiill-slock'  grades  constitute  over  95%  of  the 
merchantable  asbestos,  and  are  quoted  at  present  at  approximately  $10 
(o  $150  per  ton. 

Tile  poorer  grades  which  are  unsuitable  for  weaving  are  used  in  the 
maiuifactui'c  of  steam  ])acking,  furnace  linings,  as])estos  brick,  w^all 
plasters,  paints,  tiling,  a.sbestos  board,  shingles,  insulating  material, 
luagnesite-stuceo,  etc.  The  better  grades  are  utilized  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  tapestries  of  various  kiiuls.  firepr-oof  theater  curtains,  cloth, 
vo]K\  etc. 

A  very  important  development  of  the  asbestos  industry  is  the  rapidly 
increasing  demand  for  tlie  lower-grade  material,  on  account  of  the 
numerous  diversified  uses  to  which  asbestos  products  are  being  put,  in 
almost  every  branch  of  nuinufacture.  This  fact  means  that  many 
deposits  of  asbestos  will  become  commercially  important  even  though 
of  the  shortest  fibre. 

It  has  been  found  Ihat  not  only  does  an  asbestos  wall-plaster  render 
llie  wall  so  covered  imix'rvious  1o  heat,  but  that  in.  rooms  which  have 
given  forth  an  undesiiable  echo  this  evil  has  been  ahsolutely  removed. 
Asl)estos  pulp  mixed  with  magnesite-cement  has  been  experimented 
with:  and  roofing,  floorinu'  and  other  building  m.nterial  of  the  most 
satisfai'tory  sort  are  now  b(>ing  manufactured  therefrom. 


.102 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


The  Inilk  of  the  world's  supply  of  asbestos  has,  for  many  years,  come 
from  Canaila.  Shipments  from  South  Africa  are  also  heeoming  impor- 
tant. Id  tlie  United  States,  hmg-tihre  clirysotile  is  being'  ol)tained  in 
Arizona  whieh  is  the  e(jiial.  if  not  superior,  in  (pialit\'  to  the  Canadian. 

Value  and   Production   of  Asbestos   in   California. 

Total  amount  and  value  of  asbestos  production  in  California  since 
1887,  as  given  in  the  records  of  this  Bureau,  are  as  follows : 


Year 


Tons 


Value 


Tear 


Tons 


1887  .-. 

1888  .— 

1889  .— 

1890  .... 

1891  .... 

1892  — . 

1893  _-. 

1894  .... 

1895  ..- 

1896  ..- 

1897  .... 

1898  _.-. 

1899  .... 

1900  .... 

1901  .... 

1902  .... 

1903  ... 

1904  .... 

1905  .... 


30 
30 
30 
71 
66 
30 
50 
50 
25 


$1,800 
1,800 
1,800 
4.260 
3,960 
1,830 
2,500 
2,250 
1,000 


10 

30 

50 

110 


200 

750 

1,250 

4,400 


10 
112 


162 
2,625 


1906  .. 

1907  .. 

1908  -. 

1909  . 

1910  . 

1911  ., 

1912  . 

1913  - 

1914  . 

1915  . 

1916  - 

1917  . 

1918  . 

1919  ( 
1920^ 

1921  . 

1922  . 


Totals. 


70 

70 

70 

65 

20O 

125 

90 

47 

51 

143 

145 

136 

229 

131 

410 
50 


Value 


2,736 


$3,500 
3.500 
6,100 
6,500 

20,000 
500 
2,700 
1,175 
1,530 
2,860 
2,380 

10,225 
9,903 

6,240 

19,275 
1,800 


$128,775 


*Aniuial  d'jtails  contoaled  undiT  'Unapportioncd.' 

BARYTES. 

Bihiioifraphtj:  State  IMineralouist  Reports  XII,  XIV,  XV,  XVII. 
Bulletin  HS.  P]ng.  &  MiiL  .lour.- Press,  Vol.  114.  p.  109,  July  lo, 
1922;  Vol.  115,  pp.  319-324.  Feb.  17,  1923. 

The  output  of  crude  barytes  in  California  during  1922  was  3370  tons 
valued  at  il 8,925,  as  compared  with  1921  production  of  901  tons,  worth 
,1^1,809.  This  included,  in  part,  witlierite  (BaCO,)  from  the  deposit 
at  El  Portal.  IMaripcsa  County,  whieh  yields  both  the  sulphate  and 
carbonate.  :\lost  of  the  outjjut  of  barvtes  in  California,  at  present,  is 
beinu'  utilized  in  the  manufacture  of  lithopone. 

The  i)i-incipa]  uses  for  barytes,  after  washiuu'  and  grindinu',  are  as 
an  inert  pigment  and  tiller  in  i)iiiiit.  pai)er.  linoleum,  odcloth  and 
rubber  manufacture,  and  in  tlu'  preparation  of  lithoi)one  and  a  number 
of  chemicals.  The  most  important  of  such  chemicals,  other  than 
lithopone,  are:  barium  binoxide  (used  in  preparation  of  hydrogen 
peroxide)  ;  barium  carbonate  (used  l)y  pressed  l)rick  and  by  rubber 
manufacturers  to  neutrali/e  suljihnr  crntent):  l)arium  chloride  (used 
in  battery  plates,  and  as  a  monlant  by  dry-color  manufacturers,  and 
in  tanning  leather)  :  barium  nitrate  (used  in  munitions  and  in  making 
'red  Hre'  nuiterial  i  :  barium  sulphate  precii)itated,  or  'blanc  fixe' 
(used  ill  rubber  manufacture;  for  ])ainting  on  interior  steel  of  battle- 
ships and  other  s('a-?.;(>in'j;'  vessels;  also  as  a  detector  in  taking  X-ray 
pictures  of  the  human  l)od.v). 

More  than  luUf  of  the  total  tonnage  of  l)arytes  utilized  in  the  Fnited 
States  is  taken  in  the  nianufaclurc  of  lithopone.     This  is  a  chemically- 


STATISTICS   OF    AXXTAL    PRODUCTION. 


1U3 


prepared,  white  pigment  containintr  about  70' v  barium  sulphate  and 
60%  zinc  sulphide,  and  is  one  of  the  i)rin('ipal  constituents  of  'flat' 
■wall  paints  now  so  extensively  used  in  oltiec  buildinijs  and  liospitals, 
icplaeinj^-  both  pajxr  and  ealeiniine  wall  finishes.  Present  (quotations 
for  barytes  vary  from  $5  to  *i)  per  ton,  crude,  f.o.b.  rail-shipping 
])oint,  •depending  on  (|uality.  ^lost  ])arite  has  to  be  washed  and  acid- 
fi'catcd  to  remove  iron  stains  or  other  impurities  before  being  suitable 
for  i»aint  use. 

Known  occurrences  of  this  mineral  in  California  are  located  in  Inyo, 
liOs  Angeles,  ^Mai-iposa.  ^lonferey,  Nevada,  San  Hernai'dino,  Shasta  and 
Santa  Barl)ai-a  counties.  The  deposit  at  El  i'ortal,  in  Mariposa  County, 
has  given  the  largest  comnieirial  i)roduction  to  date,  in  part  witherite 
(barium  carbonate,  HaCO;,).  The  1915  output  was  the  first  commercial 
production  of  the  eai-lxunite  in  the  United  Slates  of  which  we  have 
i-ecoi-(l.  Jn  li)l()-l!i20,  some  tomiatre  of  barytes  came  from  a  deposit 
('Peiied  up  on  Fremont's  Peak.  ^lonterey  County,  near  the  line  of  San 
l^enito  Count\  ;  in  1!)15)-1922.  shipments  were  made  from  Nevada 
County.     Shasta  County  is  in  the  list  for  1921-1922. 

Total    Barytes    Production   of   California. 

The  first  recorded  production  of  barytes  in  California,  according  to 
the  statistical  reports  of  the  State  ^Mining  Bureau,  was  in  1910.  The 
annual  tigures  are  as  follows: 


Tear 

Tons 

1910 — 

860 

1911  

309 

1912        

564 

1913 

1,600 

1914      

2,000 

1915 

410 

1916 

1,606 

1917 —  . 

4,420 

Value 


Year 


$5,640 
2,207 
2,812 
3,680 
3,000 
620 
5.516 

25.633 


1918 
1919 
1920 
1921 
1922 


Tons 


Value 


100 

$1,500 

1,501 

18.065 

3,029 

20.795 

901 

4,809 

3.370 

18.925 

Totals. 


20.670       $113,202 


CLAY    (pottery). 

Bibliographi/:   State  :Mineralogist  Reports   I,   IV.   IX,   XII-XV, 
XVII,  XVIII.    Bulletin  38.     Preliminary  Report  No.  7. 

At  one  time  or  aiiothei-  in  the  history  of  the  state,  pottery  clay  has 
been  quarried  in  thirty-three  of  its  counties.  In  this  report,  'pottery 
day'  refers  to  all  clays  used  in  the  manufacture  of  red  and  brown 
earthenware,  china  and  sanitary  ware,  flowerpots,  floor,  faience  and 
ornamental  tiling,  architectural  terra  cotta,  sewer  pipe,  drain  and  roof 
tile,  etc..  and  the  figures  for  amount  and  value  are  relative  to  the  crude 
material  at  the  pit,  without  reference  to  whether  the  clay  was  sold  in 
the  crude  form,  or  whether  it  was  immediately  used  in  the  manufacture 
of  any  of  the  above  finished  products  by  the  producer.  It  does  not 
include  clay  used  in  making  brick  and  building  blocks. 

There  are  many  other  important  uses  for  clays  besides  pottery  manu- 
facture. Among  these  may  ])e  enumerated,  paper,  cotton  goods,  and 
chemicals.  Being  neutral,  clay  does  not  have  an  injurious  effect  upon 
other  constituents  used  in  the  manufacture  of  such  articles.  In  paper 
making,  clay  is  used  as  a  filler  in  news  and  similar  grades,  and  as  a 


ao4 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF   CALIFORNIA. 


eoater  or  ^-lazer  iu  the  more  lii<iiily  finished  art  papers.  A  hirge  part 
of  the  ehiiia  elay  used  in  the  Uniteil  States  is  imported  from  England. 
Clays  of  the  montmorillonite  and  halloysite  group  ('rock  soap')  are 
being  utilized  successfully  in  the  manufacture  of  soaps. 

During  li)22.  a  total  of  39  ])roducers  in  14  counties  reported  an 
output  of  277,232  short  tons  of  pottery  elays,  having  a  total  value  of 
$473,184  f.o.h.  rail-shipping  point,  for  the  crude  material,  as  compared 
with  the  1921  production  of  225,120  tons  worth  .1^362,172. 

Because  of  the  fact  that  a  given  i)roduct  often  requires  a  mixture  of 
several  different  clays,  and  that  tliese  are  not  all  found  in  the  same  pit, 
it  is  necessary  for  most  clay-working  plants  to  buy  some  part  of  their 
i-aw  materials  from  other  localities.  For  these  reasons,  in  compiling  the 
clay  intlustry  figures,  nuich  care  is  required  to  avoid  duplications.     So 


County  Court  House  at  Ventura,  California.     Finislied  in  white,  arcliitectural  terra 
cotta  from   Gladding,  McBean  &  Co.,   Lincoln,   Placer  County,   California,   and 

built  in  1S!14. 


far  as  we  have  been  able  to  segregate  the  figures,  from  the  data  sent  in 
b.y  the  operatives,  Ave  have  creditefl  the  elay  output  to  the  counties  from 
■which  the  raw  material  originated ;  and  have  deducted  tonnages  used 
in  brick  manufacture,  as  bricks  are  classified  separately,  herein. 

A  ta])ulation  of  the  direct  returns  from  the  prodiu-ers,  by  counties, 
for  the  year  1922,  is  shown  herewith : 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION. 


105 


POTTERY   CLAY    IN    1922. 


Ctounty 

Tons 

Value 

Used  In  the  manufacture  of— 

Amador _ 

Contra  Costa 

Humboldt    

Los  Angelas 

•39.5ra 

7,096 

303 
54,924 

79,631 

»'81,577 

ei,393 
3,836 

9,010 

|«S,126 

12,910 

649 
66,519 

111,166 

181,897 

12,545 
7,372 

12,004 

Architecturnl  terra  cotta,  porcelain,  stoneware, 

fire  clay  products,  sewer  pipe,  etc. 
.Architectural    terra    cotta,    porcelain,    chimney 

and  sewer  pipe,  drain  and  building  tile. 
Art  pottery,  drain  tile. 
Cnished  brick  for  roofing  and  roofing  tile,  red 

earthenware,  stoneware.  Are  clay  and  grog. 
Architectural  terra  cotta,  drain,  roofing,  mantel, 

floor  and   faience  tile,  garden  pottery,  sewer 

pipe,  sanitary  ware  and  various. 
Architectural  terra  cotta,  floor  and  faience  tile. 

Placer   - — 

Riverside  

San  Diego — 

Santa  Clara 

Alameda,    Calaveras,    Inyo, 
Orange,  San  Joaquin,  and 
Sonoma       

grog,    porcelain,    stoneware.    Are    clay,    sewer 

pipe  anil  various. 
Tile,  pottery,  crushed  tile  roofing. 
Red   earthenware,  grog   and  crushed   brick  for 

roofing. 

Drain  tile,  flue  lining,  sewer  and  chimney  pip?, 
porcelain   and  Are  clay. 

Totals — _ 

277,232 

$473,184 

"Includes  washed  kaolin. 

••Includes  ball  clay. 

•'Includes  'Oornwall  stone'  used  in  pottery. 


Pottery   Clay   Products. 

The  values  of  the  various  potterv  elav  produets  made  in  California 
during  1922  totaled  $7,562,698,  compared  with  $5,478,848  in  1921, 
their  distribution  being  shown  in  the  following  tabulation: 


VALUES    OF    POTTERY    CLAY    PRODUCTS,    1922. 


Product 


Architectural  terra  cotta 

Chimney  pipe,  terra  cotta,  and  flue  linings 

Drain  tile 

Roofing  tile  — 

Sewer  pipe — 

.Stoneware,  chemical  and  sanitary  ware 

Red  earthenware 

Floor,  faience,  mantel,  glazed  and  hand-made  tile 

Miscellaneous   art  pottery,  terra  cotta,  garden   furniture,   mortar  colors, 
vitrified  conduit,  bisque  ware,  grog  and  flre  clay— 


Value 


$1,862,647 

155,924 

70,315 

772,422 

1,710,840 

2,007,019 

121,226 

684,036 

178,239 


Total   value $7,562,698 


Important  increases  were  shown  by  all  of  the  above  except  drain 
tile,  which  decreased  slightly.  The  largest  increase  in  value  was  by 
the  stoneware,  chemical  and  sanitary  ware  group. 


,106 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Pottery  Clay   Production  of  California,  by  Years. 

Amount  and  value  of  crude  pottery  clay  output  in  California  since 
1887  are  given  in  the  following  table : 


Tear 


Tons 


1887 75.000 

1888 75,000 

1889 j  75,000 

1890 !  100,000 

1891 i  100,000 

1892  100,000 


1893 
1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1899 
190O 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 


24,856 
28,475 
37,660 
41,907 
24,592 
28,947 
40,600 
59,636 
55,679 
67,933 
90,972 
84,149 


1905  133,805 


Value 


$37,500 
37,500 
37,500 
50,000 
50,000 
50,000 
67,284 
35,073 
39,685 
62,900 
30,290 
33,747 
42,700 
60,956 
39,144 
74,163 
99,907 
81,952 

130,146 


Tear 


Tons 


1906  '  167,267 

1907 160.385 

1908 208,042 

1909 299,424 

1910 249.028 

1911 224,576 

1912 199,605 

1913 I  231,179 

1914 179,948 

1915 '  157,866 

1916 134,636 

1917  I  166,298 

1918 112,423 

1919 135.705 

1920 203,997 

1921  I  225,120 

1922 277,232 


4,576,945 


Value 


$162,283 
254,454 
325,147 
465,647 
324,099 
252,759 
215,683 
261,273 
167.552 
133,724 
146,538 
154,602 
166,788 
245,019 
440,689 
362,172 
473,184 


$5,612,060 


DOLOMITE. 
BibliograpJnj:  Reports  XV,  XVII,  XYIII.     Bulletins  67,  91. 

Previous  to  the  1915  report  dolomite  was  included  under  limestone. 
Limestones  are  frequently  more  or  less  magnesian-bearing,  and  a  chem- 
ical analysis  is  often  necessary  to  definitely  decide  as  to  whether  they 
are  calcite  or  dolomite;  the  latter  standing  intermediate  betwen  niag- 
nesite  (MgCOa)  and  calcite  (CaCOg).  Since  dolomite,  as  such,  has 
been  found  to  have  certain  distinctive  applications,  we  have  given  it 
a  separate  classification. 

An  important  part  of  the  tonnage  l)eing  shipped  is  utilized  as  a 
refractory  lining  in  the  bottoms  of  open-hearth  steel  furnaces,  as  a 
substitute  for  magnesite.  A  portion  is  used  for  its  carbonic  acid  gas 
(CO.),  and  part  for  its  magnesia.  AVe  are  also  informed  that  some 
calcined  dolomite  has  ])een  used  b.v  the  paper  mills.  As  dolomite  eon- 
tains  the  i)roper  proportions  of  lime  and  magnesia,  it  can  replace  an 
artificial  mixture  of  calcined  limestone  and  magnesite  in  the  sulphite 
process  of  manufacture  of  paper  from  wood  pulp.  Dolomite  is  also 
sometimes  used  as  a  flux  in  metal  smelting. 

The  dolomite  production  in  Inyo  County  is  utilized  for  its  COo  by 
the  chemical  plants  on  Owens  Lake,  in  the  manufacture  of  soda  a.sh 
and  bicarbonate  from  the  waters  of  the  lake.  The  Tuolumne  County 
material  is  burned  for  the  preparation  of  a  dolomitic  lime. 

The  production  of  dolomite  for  tlie  year  1922  showed  an  increase 
both   in   tonnage   and  value  over  the   1921   output,   and   amounted  to 


STATISTICS   OF    ANXTAL    PKODl'CTION'. 


1U7 


52,400  tons,  valued  at  $114,911.  from  a  total  of  8  quarries  in  4  counties, 
distributed  as  follows: 


County 


Tons 


Value 


Inyo    

San  lionito  

Montcioy,  Tuolumne* 


•43,778 
6,«50 
1,981 


$72,284 
30,100 
12,a27 


Totals. 


52,409 


$114,911 


•Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 
Dolomite   Production   of   California,   by   Years. 

Aiiiount  and  vahu'  of  ilic  c)iit|)iil  (if  dolomite,  annually,  have  been  as 
follows  : 


Tear 

Tons 

Value 

1915       

4,192 
13,313 
27,911 
24,560 
24,502 
42,388 
31,195 
52,409 

$14.W4 

l!>l(j 

4<5,5e8 

1917 — _     „ 

66,410 

1918    - - 

79,441 

1919 -- 

67,953 

1920                   - -              .       „ 

132,791 

]!)21    — 

95,155 

1!»22    ...                                   - 

114,911 

Totals - 

220,470 

$621,737 

FELDSPAR. 

Bi-hliographj/:  Reports  XV,  XVTI.  XVITT.  Bulletins  67.  91. 
TT.  S.  Bur.'HU  of  :Mines.  Bulletin  92.  Kiv^.  &  Min.  Jour.-Press, 
Vol.  115,  pp.  535-588,  Mar.  24,  1923. 

Feldspar  was  ])rodueed  by  five  operators  in  two  eounties  during  1922, 
to  the  amount  of  4587  tons,  valued  at  .$37,109,  being  a  slight  increase 
))oth  in  tonnaoe  and  value  over  the  output  of  1921. 

Feldspar  i)roduetion  began  in  California  in  1910.  The  mineral  is  a 
constituent  of  many  rooks,  but  can  only  be  commerciall.y  produced 
from  pegmatites  where  the  crystals  are  large  and  quite  free  from 
impurities.  The  f)pen-cut  quarry  method  of  mining  this  material  is 
'•ommouly  used. 

Aranul'acturers  of  ])()ttery,  ehinaware,  ])()rcelain,  enamel  wares,  also 
enamel  brick  and  tile,  buy  most  of  the  better  grades  of  feldspar  pro- 
duced. Tbey  use  it  in  both  the  body  and  the  glaze  of  the  various 
grades  of  eeramie  jn'oduets.  In  the  body  it  constitutes  from  lO^o  to 
35%,  its  value  there  being  due  to  the  fact  that  it  melts  during  firing  at 
a  temperature  below  the  fusing  points  of  the  other  ingredients  and 
forms  a  firm  bond  between  the  particles  of  clay  and  quartz.  In  glazes 
the  percentaue  of  feldspar  used  runs  from  .'W%  to  50%.  Small  quanti- 
ties are  used  in  the  manufacture  of  opalescent  gla.ss  and  scouring  soaps, 
and  the  more  im])ure  material  is  utilized  as  chicken  grit,  in  making 
various  ])rands  of  roofing,  and  in  emery  and  corundum  wheels  where 
it  s(^rves  as  a  binder.  ^'^aI•ious  experinienf?;  have  been  made  with  potash 
feldspars  in  the  attem[)t  to  extract  their  ])()tash  content  for  use  in 
fertilizers.    The  most  successful  of  these  has  been  accomplished  through 


.108  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

the  medium  of  cemc^iit  inanufacture,  and  recovery  of  the  potash  as  a 
by-prodnet. 

The  requirements  of  the  pottery  trade  demand  that  in  general  the 
percentage  of  free  silica  associated  with  the  feldspar  be  less  than  20%, 
and  in  some  cases  the  potters  specify  less  than  5%.  An  important 
factor,  also,  is  the  iron-hearing-  minerals  frequently  present  in  pegma- 
tites and  granites,  such  as  biotite  (black  mica),  garnet,  hornblende,  and 
l)lack  tourmaline.  Feldspar  for  pottery  uses  should  be  practically  free 
of  tliese.  The  white,  potash-mica,  muscovite,  is  not  particularly  objec- 
tionable except  that,  being  in  thin,  flexible  plates,  it  does  not  readily 
grind  to  a  fineness  required  for  the  feldspar. 

A  recent  paper  by  Arthur  S.  Watts.^  Trofpssor  of  Ceramic  Engineer- 
ing at  Ohio  State  I'niversity.  contains  nnich  valuable  information  on 
the  subject  of  commercial  feldspar,  and  the  following  paragraphs  are 
quoted  therefrom : 

"Feldspars  may  be  classified  according  to  their  alkali  or  alkaline  earth  constituent 
into  four  distinct  groups:  (1)  Potash  feldspars,  known  as  niicrocline  or  orthoclase, 
KAlSi-iOs;  (2)  soda  feldspar,  known  as  albite,  NaA!Si:iOs ;  (3)  lime  feldspar,  known 
as  anorthite.  CaAlsSisOg ;  (4)  barium  feldspar,  known  as  celsian,  BaAl2Si:.Os.  In 
nature,  these  minerals  commonly  occur  as  intimately  crystallized  masses  of  two  or 
more  different  feldspars.  Some  of  the  feldspars  apparently  combine  and  form  homo- 
geneous crystals  of  definite  composition,  whereas  others  are  isomorphous  mixtures. 
******* 

"Mixtures  of  microcline  and  albite  or  mixtures  of  microcline  and  albite-rich  members 
of  the  plagioclase  series  are  really  the  feldspars  with  which  the  manufacturer  who 
uses  the  material  popularly  known  as  "potash  feldspar"  has  to  deal. 

"In  purchasing  'soda  feldspar'  the  manufacturer  neyer  obtains  pure  albite,  because 
deposits  of  pure  albite  of  commercial  size  do  not  exist.  The  nearest  approach  to  pure 
albite  which  is  obtainable  in  commercial  quantity  is  a  feldspar  high  in  soda  content 
and  relatively  low  in  potasli  and  lime  content. 

*  *  ***** 

"The  alkali  feldspars  are  the  only  ones  that  have  industrial  importance  at  present. 
The  potash  feldspars  are  used  in  largest  quantities.  They  constitute  the  chief  flux  or 
solvent  of  all  ceramic  or  clay  bodies,  causing  a  gradual  vitrification  which  can  be 
controlled  successfully  in  commercial  kilns.  These  include  art  and  service  porcelains, 
chinas  and  earthenwares,  sanitary  porcelains,  wall  and  floor  tiles,  electrical  porcelains, 
and  chemical  porcelains.  They  are  also  used  in  compounding  glasses,  glazes,  and 
metal  enamels. 

"The  soda  feldspars  are  used  chiefl.v  as  an  auxiliary  flux  with  the  potash  feldspars, 
but  predominate  as  a  glaze  flux  over  the  potash  feldspar,  owing  to  the  fact  that  they 
impart  to  the  surface  produced  a  superior  gloss  and  texture. 

"Feldspar  was  marketed  to  the  user  in  the  ground  state  exclusively  until  within  the 
last  five  years,  when  a  few  large  and  particular  manufacturers  have  installed  grinding 
machinery  and  are  now  buying  the  crude  rocks. 

******* 

"All  feldspar-bearing  rocks  are  of  igneous  origin — that  is,  they  have  .solidified  from 
molten  masses.  The  potash  and  soda  feldspars  are  found  chiefly  in  eranites.  which 
generally  occur  as  vast  intruded  masses,  and  consist  essentially  of  quartz,  feldspars, 
micas,  and  hornblende.  Granite  masses  generally  contain  dikes  or  sills  of  rock  that 
are  similar  in  composition  to  the  granite  itself,  but  were  intruded  after  the  latter  had 
more  or  less  solidified.  These  dikes  or  sills  are  generally  pegmatite — that  is,  tliey  are 
coarsely  crystalline  granite  in  which  feldspar  and  quartz  are  the  chief  constituents  ; 
the  other  granite  constituents  may  be  totally  absent  or  replaced  by  rare  minerals. 
This  pegmatite  is  the  source  of  the  feldspar  of  commerce. 

"When  the  crystallization  is  exceptionally  coarse  or  the  constituents  of  the  dike 
are  separated  into  distinct  bands,  it  is  sometimes  possible  to  obtain  feldspar  in  com- 
mercial quantity  absolutely  free  from  associate  minerals.  In  most  dikes  the  feldspar 
and  quartz  are  crystallized  too  intimately  to  permit  of  such  a  separation,  and  the 
most  that  can  be  accomplished  is  the  elimination  of  such  as.sociated  minerals  as  are 
segregated  or  sufficiently  coarsely  crystalline. 

"Feldspar  is  mined  by  ordinar.v  ciuarry  methods,  and  after  a  general  sorting  the 
rejected  portion  is  resorted  and  by  'cobbing'  an  additional  yield  of  marketable  rock  is 
obtained.  The  crude  rock  is  {-rushed  in  a  jaw  crusher  or  under  a  Ijuhrstone  chaser 
mill,  and  screened,  the  fines  going  to  tlie  pulverizing  mill  and  tlie  coarse  material 
returning  for  further  crushing.  The  pulverizing  process  is  accomplished  in  either  the 
l>all  liiill,  the  tulie  mill,  or  tlie  conical  mill.  In  the  United  States,  all  grinding  is  done 
dr>'.  whereas  in  Europe  wli.-re  tlie  plants  grind  their  own  feldspar,  the  wet  process 
of  grinding  is  general.  (For  a  full  discussion  of  grinding  methods,  see  Bulletin  of 
February  20,  1922,  American  Ceramic  Society.) 


'Watts.  A.  S..  The  marketing  of  feldspar:  Eng.  &  Min.  Jour.-Press,  Vol.  115,  pp.  535- 
538,  Mar.  24,  1923. 


STATISTICS    OF    ANM  Al.    I'KUDLCTJON. 


101 


"Grades  of  Feldspar. 

"No  deflnite  grading  svstein  lias  over  been  establislied  citlier  in  crude  or  ground 
feldspar  The  terms  No.  1  and  No.  2  spar  are  sometimes  used  in  market  reports,  but 
these  have  only  general  meaning.  No.  1  feldspar  is  a  selected  grade  of  the  product 
of  the  district.  No.  2  feldspar  is  a  grade  less  carefully  selected  than  No.  1  and  gen- 
erally higher  in  iiuartz  and  mu.scovite.  Neither  No.  1  nor  No.  2  grade  feldspar  may 
contain  biotite  (black  mica),  garnet  or  tourmaline  in  amount  sufficient  to  noticeably 
■iffect  the  color  of  tlie  feldspar  when  fused.  In  some  districts  a  No.  1  grade  will  carry 
no  free  silica,  though  in  other  districts  the  same  grade  will  carry  10  or  even  1:>  per 
cent  (luartz  Nuin.ruus  attempts  to  reach  some  agreement  l>elween  i)rodurers  and 
consumers  have  failetl.  but  tlie  problem  is  now  under  consideration  by  a  ronimittee  i.l 
tile  American  Ceramic  Society,  and  doubtl.-ss  some  system  of  grading  will  !..•  offered 
in  the  near  future.  ,     ,     ,    .- 

"A.  grade  known  as  dental  feldspar  has  been  produced  and  markele<l  lor  many 
years  but  the  consumption  amounts  to  only  a  few  tons  per  year  and  nee<l  liardly  be 
considered.  It  is  ol)iaiMe<l  1)V  carefully  hand  sorting  a  quantity  of  choice,  crude  feldspar 
and  selecting  tlie  perfecllv  clear  crystals  free  from  all   foreign  material.     This  is  care- 


manufacturers  of  artificial   teeth. 

referred  to  in  reports  is  that  known  as  soap  feldspar, 
producer  of  scouring  soap.  It  consists  of  feldspar  rock 
but   containing  mica   in   such  quantity   as  to  condemn   it 


fulLv   barri'led  and  sold   to   thi 

"Another   grade   sometimes 
Tills  is  purcliased  by  a  large 
absolutelj-   free   from   (luartz, 
for  tlie  ceramic  market.  r,,,  •     ■ 

"A  few  feldspar  grinders  are  producing  what  they  call  a  glaze  feldspar.  This  is  a 
natural  or  artificial  mixture  of  potash  and  soda  feldspar  in  about  equal  proportions, 
in  which  the  soda  feldspar  is  sliglitly  in  excess. 

"There  is  no  basis  for  a  grade  known  as  glassmakers'  or  enamelers  feldspar,  as 
both  of  these  industries  are  demanding  as  high-grade  potash  feldspar  as  they  can 
seeure.  The  fact  that  their  product  is  completely  fused,  however,  may  cause  them  to 
accept  or  even  prefer  a  coarser-ground  product  than  would  be  acceptable  to  the  clay- 
\vorking  industries. 

"Tlie  consumption  of  ground  feldspar  is  practically  uniform  throughout  the  year, 
and  as  the  mining  is  regulated  in  many  sections  by  weather  conditions,  this  necessi- 
tates excess  production  of  crude  feldspar  during  the  summer  months  in  most  localities. 

"There  is  practically  no  market  for  feldspar  discolored  by  iron  or  iron-bearing 
minerals.  The  manufacturers  of  clay  wares  demand  exceptionally  finely  pulverized 
product,  not  more  than  6  per  cent  residue  on  a  200-mesh  sieve.  In  the  glass  and 
enameled  metal  industries,  the  requirements  are  less  severe,  many  consumers  accepting 
material  provided  it  passes  100-mesh  sieve. 

"There  are  no  standard  specifications  govei'ning  the  sale  of  feldspar.  The  general 
requirements  are  covered,  however,  by  the  following  specifications: 


"J.    The  Sample. 

"In  sampling  carload  lots,  equal  amounts  shall  be  taken  from  at  least  five  different 
points  in  tlie  car,  no  two  samples  being  taken  within  five  feet  of  each  other. 

•  •***** 

"II.  Chemical  Composition. 

"1.  Feldspar  sold  as  potash  feldspar  shall  contain  not  less  than  !>  per  cent  K:;0.  and 
not  more  than  3  per  cent  Na-O  and  not  more  llian  1  per  cent  CaMgO,  and  the  sum  of 
the  potash  and  soda  contents  shall  not  l»e  less  than   12  per  cetit. 

"2.  I'\'ldspar  sold  as  soda  feldspar  shall  contain  not  less  than  7  per  cent  Na...O,  not 
more  tlian  ?,  per  cent  K:;t),  and  not  more  than  2  per  cent  CaMgO,  and  the  sum  of  the 
potasli  and  soda  contents  shall  not  be  less  than  10  per  cent. 

'".i.  Feldspar  sold  as  mixed  or  blended  feldspar  shall  contain  not  less  than  11  per 
cent  total  potash  and  soda  content. 


"III.   I'hjisicul  Properties  and  Tests. 

"1.  Color.  The  feldspar  when  formed  into  a  standard-sized  cone  and  deformed  in 
a  closed  sagger  or  muffle  shall  sliow  a  uniform  white  color  and  no  specks  or  spots 
either  on  the  surface  or  on  tlie  interior  of  the  cone  wlien  broken. 

"2a.  Fineness  of  Giain.  One  liundred  grams  of  tlie  sample,  after  being  dried  to 
constant  weight  at  105  deg.  C,  shall  ]><■  tested  for  fineness  of  grain  according  to  the 
process  set  forth  in  paragraph  21),  and  the  residues  on  the  various  standard  sieves 
shall  not  exceed  the  ma.ximum  totals  as  set  forth  in  the  following  table : 


"Standard  sieve  mesh  per  linear  inch 

Residues  in  per  cent 

Each 
sieve 

Maximum 
total 

65    -  . 

0.25 
0.25 
1.75 
3.75 
5.00 
7.0O 

0.00 

100    

0.50 

150   

2.25 

aoo 

2no 

6.00 
ll.OO 

300    ...                               .. 

18.00 

1,10 


MINERAfj    INDUSTRY    OF    CAI.IFORNIA. 


"All  percentagrs  are  calcuUitiMl  on  dry  basis. 

"3.  Moisture  Content.  Unles.s  otlniwise  spt'c-ilied,  tlie  purchase  price  shall  be  based 
on  moisture-free  material. 

******* 

"4.  Fusion  Behavior.  Test  cones  of  the  material  shall  be  made  of  standard  dimen- 
sions :  i.  f.,  -11   in.  liigh  by  9/16  in.  diameter  across  base  of  one  face. 

,*«**•• 

"Tlie  fusion  lieliavior  of  tlie  different  feldspars  sliall  be  as  follows: 

"(a)    Feldspars  sold  as  potasli  feldspais  sliall  fuse  with  or  prior  to  Standard 

Orton   cone    8.'    The   mi.xture  of   75    per  cent    feldspar   and   25   per  cent  standard 

flint  shall  fuse  with  or  prior  to  Standard  Orton  cone  9. 

"(h)    Feldspars   sold   as    soda    feldspars   shall   fuse   with  or  prior  to   Standard 

Orton  cone  7.     Tlie  mixture  of  75  per  cent  soda  feldspar  and  25  per  cent  standard 

flint  shall  fuse  with  or  prior  to  cone  S. 

"(c)    Feldspar   sold    as   mixed    or   blended    feldspar   shall,    if    it    contains   more 

than   4   per  cent   soda,   fuse  prior  to  cone   7.      The   mixture  of  75   per  cent  mixed 

or  blended  feldspar  and  25  per  cent  standard  Hint  shall  fuse  prior  to  cone  8. 

,     "5.   Shipping   Conditions.      All    material    purcha-^'ed    under    these    specifications    shall 
be  shipped  in  clean,  closed  cars. 

******* 

"Feldspar  is  shipped  in  l)ull<  in  carload  lots.  A  common  and  questionable  practice 
is  to  merely  clean  the  car  carefully  and  dump  the  pulverized  feldspar  directly  on  the 
floor.  Within  the  last  few  years  some  bu.xers  insist  that  the  car  be  lined  with  paper. 
Less  than  carload  lots  are  shipped  in  cloth  sacks,  which  are  charged  for,  but  are 
returnalile  for  credit.      All  pricts  are  quoted   f.o.b.   cars  at  mill. 

"No  basis  for  determining  the  value  of  feldspar  based  on  its  actual  composition  has 
been  establisheil.  and  at  present  a  feldspar  with  10  per  cent  potash  or  soda  has  the 
same  market  value  as  one  contai  ling  12  per  cent.  Much  interest  is  manifested  in  the 
subiect,  however,  and  no  doubt  some  radical  changes  will  result  within  the  next  year 
or  two. 

******  ♦ 


The  most  important  recent  dcvelojiments  in  feldspar  deposits  in 
California  have  taken  place  in  San  Diejjo  and  Riverside  connties,  where 
lars'e  deposits  of  massiv(\  hiyh-srrade  spar  are  lieinii'  openiMl  up.  These 
dej)()sits  are  unusually  free  from  hlaek  mica  and  other  deleterious  iron- 
bearinu'  minerals  objectionable  in  pottery  work.  The  important  dis- 
tricts are  near  Lakeside  and  Cam{)o  in  San  Diego  County,  and  near 
Lakeview.  ^Murrietta.  and  Elsinore.  in  Riverside  County.  For  1921, 
some  i)roduction  was  also  reported  from  San  Bernardino  County;  but 
none  in  1922,  and  none  was  reported  from  Monterey  and  Tulare  coun- 
ties, for  the  past  two  years. 


Total   Feldspar  Production  of  California. 

Total  amount  and  value  of  feldspar  production  in  California  since 
the  inception  of  the  industry  are  given  in  the  following  table,  by  years: 


Tear 


Tons 


Value 


Year 


1910 
1911 
1912 
1913 
L914 
1915 
1916 


760 
740 
1.382 
2,129 
3.530 
1.800 
2,630 


$5,720 
4,560 
6.180 
7.850 

16,565 
9,000 

14,350 


1917 
1918 
1919 
1920 
1921 
1922 


Totals- 


Tons 

Value 

11,792 

$46,411 

4,132 

22,061 

1,272 

12,965 

4,518 

26,189 

4,349 

28,343 

4,587 

37,109 

43,621 


$237,298 


STATISTICS   (»F    ANMAI>    PRODUCTION.  Ill 

FLUORSPAR. 
Bihliography  -.  Reports  XVII.  .Will.     Hulletins  67,  PI. 

Fluorspar  is  used  as  a  flux  in  steel  and  iron  smelting  for  which  use  no 
substitute  has  yet  been  found ;  and  in  the  production  of  aluminum.  It 
is  also  utilized*  in  the  numufacture  of  hydrofluoric  acid,  glass,  porce- 
lain, enamels  and  sanitary  ware. 

'"The  nuirket  for  tlie  I)iilk  of  the  iluoispar  sohl  in  the  UniU-il  States  depend.^  on 
the  steel  industry,  :ind  tlie  demand  lluctiiates  vvitli  the  ri.se  and  faU  in  the  production 
of  steel.  Clravel  .spar  is  eonsumed  as  a  flux  in  l)a.sic  open-hearth  steel  furnaces  and 
to  a  smaller  e.xtent  in  other  metallurgical  operations.  In  both  1914  and  191.')  the 
sales  of  gravel  spar  constituted  between  83  and  84  per  cent  of  tlie  total  marketed 
outDUt  of  domestic  fluorspar,  and  in  1916  it  was  nearly  86  per  cent.  Fluorspar  is 
used  also  as  a  tlu.x  in  iron  blast  furn;ues.  iron  foundries,  and  in  gold,  silver,  copper 
and  lead  smelters  ;  in  the  manufacture  of  fluorides  of  iron  and  manganese  for  steel 
fluxing  and  of  sodium  fluoride  for  wood  preservation-  ;  in  tlie  manufacture  of  glass, 
enameled  and  sanitary  ware,  and  of  hydrofluoric  acid  :  in  the  elei'trolytic  reflning  of 
antimony  and  lead,  and  in  the  production  of  aluminum.  Other  miscellaneous  u.ses  of 
fluorsDar  tliat  have  been  reported  aic  as  <:  Ijonding  for  constituents  of  emery  wlieels. 
for  carbon  electrodes,  in  tlie  extraction  of  potasli  from  feldspar,  and  in  the  recovery 
of  potash  in  Portland  cement  manufacture.  Tlie  last  use  depends  on  tlie  suitability  of 
calcium  fluoride  as  a  reagent  for  increasing  the  volatilization  of  pot:issium  salts  from 
the  clinker  and  llie  regeneration  of  tlie  reagent  from  the  dust  collected.''" 

Tn  California,  deposits  have  been  reported  in  Los  Angeles,  ^lonn. 
Kiverside  and  San  Ht'riiardino  counties,  but  up  to  1917  no  eommereial 
production  had  resulted. 

In  1917-1918,  a  total  of  79  tons  valued  at  $991  was  shipped  from 
Riverside  County,  l)ut  none  since.  In  1921,  at  the  King  ^line  under 
development  near  Afton.  San  Hernardino  County,  some  fluorspar  was 
mined  but  not  shipped.  Field  examinations  have  indicated  a  consider- 
able deposit  there  of  merchantable  spar. 

The  Tariff  Act  of  1922  places  a  duty  of  $5.60  per  ton  on  foreign 
importations  of  fluorspar. 

Present  (piotations  (Engineering  and  Mining  Journal-Press,  New 
York,  June  2,  1923)  are:  Fluxing  gravel,  85%  calcium  fluoride,  and  not 
over  6%  silica,  (a)  $21  per  ton:  acid  lump  $35:  No.  2  lump,  $30:  f.  o.  b. 
Illinois  mines.    TiUmp.  92%,  at  $17.  f.  o.  b.  New  ^Mexico. 

FULLER'S    EARTH, 

Biblioyniphy:    Heports    XIV.    XVII,    XVIII.     bulletins    38,    91. 
U.  S.  Bureau  of  .Mines.  HuUetin  71. 

Fuller's  earth  includes  many  kinds  of  unctuous  clays.  It  is  usually 
.soft,  friable,  earthy,  nonplaslic,  white  and  gray  to  dark  green  in  color, 
and  .some  varieties  disintegrate  in  water.  Like  all  other  clays,  fuller's 
earth  is  a  hydrous  aluminum  silicate,  but  usually  contains  a  higher 
percentage  of  wafer  of  composition  than  most  clays.     This  water  is 

'Burchard.  E.  V.,  Fluorspar  and  cryolite  in  1916:  U.  S.  Geol.  Surv.,  Min.  Res.  of 
U.  S.,   1916,  Part  II,  p.  315,  1917. 

=Teesdale,  C.  H.,  Use  of  fluorides  in  wood  preservation  :  Wood  Preserving,  vol.  3, 
No.  4  ;  vol.  4.  No.  1.      (Reprint.  9  pp.) 

^■Treanor,  John,  Potash  from  cement  at  the  Riverside  Portland  Cement  Co.  :  Met. 
and  Chem.  Eng.,  June  1.5.  1917.  pp.  701-703. 


1,12  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

not  an  essential  factor  in  the  bleaching-  properties  of  all  fuller's  earths, 
as  some  bleaeli  full.y  as  Avell  after  it  Jias  l)een  driven  off  as  before,  and 
others  lose  much  of  their  bleaching  power  when  this  water  is  removed. 
All  fuller's  earths  which  have  been  found  valuable  for  bleaching  pur- 
]ioses  show  a  distinctly  so-called  'aeid  reaction.'  (If  a  sample  is 
touclied  to  neutral  litmus  paper  the  paper  will  be  turned  red).  Chem- 
ical analyses  are  now  well  understood  to  be  no  criterion  in  determining 
the  classification  of  a  given  clay  as  'fuller's  earth.'  The  final  deter- 
')ninaii()ii  is  a  commercial  one  as  to  Us  capacity  for  absorbimj  basic 
colors  and  removing  these  colors  from  solution  in  animal,  vegetable  or 
nvineral  oils,  also  from  water. 

'"The  Sliipping  Board's  Inqiiiries  al.so  brovis'lit  out  tlie  interesting  information  that 
only  doniestie  fuller's  earth  is  used  for  the  refining  of  mineral  oils.  There  appears,  on 
the  other  hand,  to  be  a  difference  of  opinion  as  to  the  suitability  of  the  domestic  earth 
for  use  in  refining  edible  oils.  Some  of  the  larger  users  of  fuller's  earth,  anticipating 
a  sliortage  of  imported  material,  began  early  in  the  war  to  experiment  with  domestic 
earths  in  refining  edible  oils  and  fats,  with  results  so  satisfactory  that  they  became 
independent  of  imported  earth.  Others  stated  that  they  had  experimented  with  every 
ivnowM  domestic  eartli,  but  had  not  found  one  tliat  completely  met  the  requirements  to 
.supplant  tlie  imported  eartli.  The  requirements  of  a  good  earth  for  refining  edible  oils 
are  (1)  tliat  it  shall  bleach  well  and  that  the  oil  shall  not  revert  to  its  original  color; 
(2)  tliat  it  sliall  filter  well  and  not  cake  badly;  (.3)  that  it  shall  leave  no  permanent 
(iisagreeable  taste  or  odor;  (4)  tliat  the  retention  of  oil  in  the  spent  earth  shall  be 
small  ;  and  (5)  that  there  shall  be  no  spontaneous  ignition  either  in  the  press  or  in  the 
waste  piles.  Those  wlio  use  the  imported  earth  claim  tliat  it  is  standard  in  all  of  these 
requirements,  and  that  the  domestic  earth  is  deficient  in  one  or  more  of  tliem.  Such  a 
defect  as  inability  to  bleach  well  appears  to  be  inlierent  in  some  domestic  earth,  and 
can  not  be  remedied  by  treatment.  Other  defects,  such  as  the  taste  or  odor  left  by  the 
earth,  which  is  tlie  most  frequent  objection  urged  against  the  domestic  material,  may 
possibly  be  overcome  by  treatment.  Another  serious  fault  charged  against  tlie  Ameri- 
can earth  is  that  it  retains  a  greater  proportion  of  oil  than  the  English  earth,  which 
means  a  direct  loss  in  production  ;  also  tliat  it  clogs  the  filter  presses  more,  so  that 
they  require  more  frequent  cleaning,  which  t:auses  further  decrease  in  production.  It 
is  also  charged  that  domestic  earth  is  more  subject  to  spontaneous  combustion." 

In  California,  fuller's  earth  has  been  used  in  clarifying  both  refined 
mineral  and  vegetable  oils,  and  for  si)ecial  chemical  purposes ;  although 
its  original  use  was  in  fulling  wool,  as  the  name  indicates. 

Production  has  come  mainly  from  Calaveras  and  Solano  counties. 
Deposits  have  also  been  found  in  Riverside,  Fresno,  Inyo,  and  Kern 
counties.  Some  of  the  large  oil  refiners  have  been  trying  out  clays 
of  the  montmorillonite  and  halloysite  group  ('rock  soap')  to  determine 
their  suitability,  or  efficacy  as  a  substitute  for  fuller's  earth  in  the 
refining  of  petroleum  products.  Deposits  of  this  class  of  material  are 
being  exploited  in  Inyo,  San  Bernardino,  and  San  Diego  counties,  and 
occurrences  have  been  noted  in  several  other  counties  of  California. 

The  production  of  6,606  tons,  valued  at  $48,756,  here  credited  to  1922, 
as  'fuller's  earth'  is  in  reality  a  colloidal  clay  of  the  montmorillonite 
class  ('bentonite',  'otaylite',  'elkonite',  'shosshonite',  are  merely  local 
names  arbitrarily  applied  to  varieties  of  this  mineral  found  in  a  given 
locality).  Because  it  was  used  for  clarifying  and  filtering  processes, 
we  have  placed  it,  for  the  purposes  of  this  statistical  report,  under  the 
'fuller's  earth'  heading.  As  noted  above,  the  final  determination  as 
to  what  constitutes  a  fuller 's  earth  is  a  commercial  one. 


'Middleton,  Jefferson,  Fuller's  Earth  in  191S  :    U.  S.  Geol.  Surv.,  Min.  Res.  of  U.  S. 
1918.      Part  II,  p.  136.     1919. 


STATISTirs    OF    ANXr.M.    PRODUCTION'. 


113 


Fuller's   Earth   Production   of  California,   by   Years. 

Fuller's  earth  was  first  produced  commercially  in  this  state  in  1899, 
and  the  total  amount  and  value  of  the  output  since  that  time  are  as 
follows : 


Year 


1899  ... 

1900  ... 
19(Jl  ... 

1902  ... 

1903  ... 

1904  ... 
19(ir.  ... 

1906  -,. 

1907  ... 
19(J8  ... 

1909  ... 

1910  ... 

1911  ... 


Tons 


Value 


620 
500 

1.000 
987 
250 
500 

1,344 
440 
100 
50 
459 
340 
466 


$12,400 

a  7.50 

19.500 

19.246 

4.750 

9..500 

38,000 

10.500 

1,000 

1.000 

7,385 

3.820 

5.294 


Tear 


Tons 


Value 


1912 
1913 
1914 
1915 
1916 
1917 
1918 
1919 
1920 
1921 
1922 


Totals. 


876 

$6,500 

460 

3,700 

760 

5,928 

692 

4,002 

110 

5.50 

220 

2,180 

37 

3:^3 

385 

3,810 

600 

6,000 

1,185 

8.295 

6,606 

48.756 

18,987      $226,199 


Note. — Above  production,  in  1922,  was  montmorillonite  (hydrous  aluminum  sili- 
cate) a  colloidal  clay,  sometimes  called  'rock  soap,'  and  in  part  locally  called  'sho- 
shonite'  from  its  being  found  ni.ir  Shoslione  in  Inyo  County;  and  in  part  'otaylite' 
from  Otay,  San  Diego  County. 

GEMS. 

Jiihnofiraphu:  State  :\riucral()s,'ist  Reports  II,  XIV,  XV,  XVII, 
XVIIT.  liulletins  M,  (i7,  !)1.  U.  S.  G.  S.,  ':\Iineral  Resources 
of  the  U.  S.';  Bull.  608,  p.  208.  Bull.  Dept.  Geol.  Univ.  of  Cal., 
Vol.  5,  pp.  149-153.  331-380.     Am.  Jour.  Sei.,  Vol.  31,  p.  31. 

The  production  of  gem  materials  in  California  has  been  somewhat 
irregular  and  uncertain  during  the  past  ten  years.  The  compilation 
of  complete  statistics  is  dilHeult  owinu'  to  the  widely  scattered  places 
at  wliich  stones  are  gathered  and  marketed  in  a  small  way.  The  higher 
figure  of  the  j'ear  1920  was  due  to  shipments  of  quartz  crystals  from 
Calaveras  County  and  Iceland  spar  from  ^Modoc  County  sold  for  optical 
purposes,  which  nse  demands  material  of  gem  (piality  and  free  from 
Haws.  The  tourmaline  mines  at  Pala,  San  Diego  County,  are  being 
reopened,  so  there  is  promise  of  an  increased  production  for  1923. 

The  following  table  shows  the  i>roduction,  by  counties,  of  rough, 
nneut  gem  and  jeweler's  materials  during  1922: 


County                                    1     Value 

1 

Kind 

Butte - 

San  Diego 

Calaveras 1 

Riverside _  | 

San  Bernardino f 

Sonoma ) 

$225 
40O 

•687 

Diamonds 

Tourmaline,  blue  and  green  topaz 
f  Quartz  crystals 
1  Optical  fluoritei 
1  ITiomsonite  and  sapphire 
j  Chalcedony 

Total  value 

1,312 

•Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 

'Mined  and  sold  in  1018,  but  not  reported  to  State  Mining  Bureau  till  1922. 

Varieties  of  California   Gem   Stones. 

Diamonds  liave  been  found  in  a  nuiuber  of  localities  in  California; 
but  in  every  case,  they  have  been  obtained  in  stream  gravels  Avhile 
Avorking  them  for  gold.  The  i)rincipal  districts  have  been :  Volcano  in 
Amador  County;  Plaeerville.  Smith's  Flat  and  others  in  El  Dorado 

8—28547 


114 


MINERAIj   industry   of   CALIFORNIA. 


County ;  French  Corral,  Nevada  County ;  Cherokee  Flat,  Morris  Ravine, 
and  Yankee  Hill,  Butte  County ;  Gopher  Hill  and  upper  Spanish  Creek, 
Plumas  County.  The  most  productive  district  of  recent  years  has  been 
Cherokee  in  Butte  County. 

California  tourmalines  are  decidedly  distinctive  in  colorins:  and  'fire' 
as  compared  to  foreign  stones  of  this  classification.  The  colors  range 
from  deep  ruby  to  pink,  and  various  shades  of  green;  also  a  blue 
tourmaline  has  been  found. 

One  of  our  California  gem  stones,  henifoitc,  has  not  been  found  else- 
Avhere ;  and  in  but  a  single  locality  here :  The  Dallas  Mine  in  San  Benito 
County. 

Kunzite,  a  gem  variety  of  spodumene,  was  first  found  in  the  Pala 
district  in  San  Diego  County.  It  has  thus  far  been  found  in  only  one 
locality  (Madagascar)  outside  of  California.  It  is  of  a  lilac  color,  and 
is  described  in  detail  in  Bulletin  37  of  the  State  ]\Iining  Bureau. 

Beryls  of  excellent  fire  and  delicate  colors  are  also  obtained  in  the 
Pala  district,  of  which  the  aquamarine  (blue)  and  morganite  (pink) 
varieties  deserve  special  mention.  Morganite,  like  kunzite,  has  thus 
far  been  found  elsewhere  only  iu  ^Madagascar. 

Calif ornitc,  or  'California  jade,'  is  a  gem  variety  of  vesuvianite,  and 
is  green  or  white  in  color.  It  is  found  in  Butte,  Fresno,  and  Siskiyou 
counties. 

Some  rhodonite  has  been  mined  in  Siskiyou  County,  and  used  for 
decorative  purpose,  its  value  being  included  in  the  marble  figures. 

Chrysoprase  has  been  produced  in  Tulare  County. 

Turquoise  has  been  found  in  the  desert  section  of  San  Bernardino 
County,  but  none  produced  commercially  in  recent  years. 

Sapphires  have  been  reported  recently  found  in  San  Bernardino  and 
Riverside  counties,  but  not  as  yet  confirmed. 

Rubies  have  been  identified  by  the  laboratory  of  the  State  Mining 
Bureau,  occurring  in  limestone  from  the  Baldy  Mountains,  San 
Bernardino  County.  Thus  far  no  stones  of  commercial  size  have  been 
1  aken  out. 


Total   Production  of  Gem   Materials  in   California. 

The   value   of   the    gem   output   iu    California    annually   since   the 
beo-inning  of  commercial  production  is  as  follows: 


Year 


1900. 

1901. 

1902. 

1903. 

1904. 

1905. 

1906. 

1907. 

1908. 

1909 

1910. 

1911. 


Value 


$20,500 
40.000 
162,100 
110.500 
136,000 
148.500 
497.090 
232.642 
208.950 
193.700 
237.475 
51.824 


Tear 


1912. 
1913. 
1914. 
1915. 
1916. 
1917 . 
1918. 
1919. 
1920. 
1921. 
1922. 


Value 


$23,050 

13,740 

3.970 

3.565 

4,752 

3,049 

650 

5,425 

36,056 

10.954 

1,312 


Total -     $2,145,804 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL    PRODT'CTION.  115 

Industrial   Uses  of   Precious  Stones. 

The  following  onumeration  of  the  industrial  applications  of  precious 
stones  is  quoted  from  '[Mineral  Resources  of  the  United  States'-: 

"Some  Industrial   Uses  of  Precious  Stones. 

"In  the  following  paragraphs  are  given  some  industrial  uses  of  minerals  of  gem 
quality.  In  addition  to  ornamentation,  all  gem  minerals  are  of  value  as  specimens 
for  collections,  for  use  in  standardization  (for  example,  fluorite  and  auartz  as  stan- 
dards of  densities  and  of  refractive  indices),  and  as  sources  of  material  for  investiga- 
tion, both  industrial  and  scientific.  These  uses  are  therefore  not  always  repeated 
imder  the  different  mineral  names.  Ornamentation  itself  covers  a  variety  of  utiliza- 
tion, such  as  for  jewelry,  knife  handles,  paper  weights,  and  pipes  (meerschaum). 

'Agate.  Mechanical  bearings  and  supports,  scale  bearings,  balls  for  water 
meters. 

"Azurite.     Ore  of  copper  ;  pigment  for  paint. 

"Azurmalachite.     Ore  of  copper. 

"Calcite.     See  Iceland  spar. 

"Chrovtite.      Ore  of  cromium. 

"Chri/socoUa.     Ore  of  conoer. 

•'Cobaltite.      Ore  of  cobalt. 

'■Corundum.      See  Sapphire. 

'•Diamond.  Cutting,  grinding,  engraving,  boring,  and  polishing  material  ; 
supports  for  bearings  and  pivots ;  dies  for  wire  drawings  ;  tips  for  phonograph 
needles. 

"Epidote.     For  coloring  artificial  slate  and  roofing  material. 

"Fluorite.     See  Optical  fluorite. 

"Franklinite.     Ore  of  manjranese  .and  zinc. 

"Garnet.     Abrasive  :  for  watch  jewels  or  jeweled  bearings  ;  as  tared  weights. 

"Garnierite.      Ore  of  nickel. 

"Gypsum.  Used  in  manufacture  of  artificial  pearls — the  so-called  "Roman 
pearls." 

"Hematite.     Ore  of  iron. 

"Iceland  spar.  Iceland  spar  is  a  variety  of  calcite,  clear  and  transparent  and 
unusually  free  from  imperfections  and  impurities.  Transparent  crystals  or 
cleavage  pieces  of  calcite  of  any  appreciable  size  are  very  rare,  and  as  Iceland 
has  furnished  almost  all  of  such  material  used,  the  name  Iceland  spar  has  been 
given   it. 

"Elongated  cleavage  rhombohedrons  of  Iceland  spar  are  used  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  nicol  prisms,  which  are  an  essential  part  of  optical  instruments  requiring 
plane  polarized  light,  as,  for  example,  certain  microscopes,  dichroscooes,  and 
saccharimeters.  The  material,  on  account  of  its  simole  chemical  composition 
and  purity,  finds  application  in  chemical  standardization.  Iceland  spar  is  also 
used  in  the  manufacture  uf  some  kinds  of  glass,  and  some  of  it  is  sold  as  mineral 
specimens. 

"Pieces  of  Iceland  spar,  either  in  single  untwinned  crystals  or  parts  of  such 
crystals,  or  in  homogeneous  untwinned  cleavage  rhombohedra,  which  are  large 
enough  to  yield  a  rectangular  prism  at  least  one  inch  long  and  half  an  inch  thick 
each  way  and  which  possess  the  properties  described  below,  ai'c  suitable  for 
optical  purposes.  The  colorless  material  must  be  so  clear  and  transparent  that 
it  is  limpid  and  pellucid.  It  must  not  be  partly  opaque  on  account  of  numerous 
cracks  or  fractures,  must  not  show  any  internal,  iiidescent,  or  rainbow  colors 
due  to  incipient  cracks  along  fracture  lines,  nor  any  cleavage,  nor  twinning 
planes.  Neither  can  there  be  any  capillary  or  larger  tubelike  cavities,  nor  cavi- 
ties or  bubbles  of  any  shape,  nor  inclusions,  as  isolated  particles,  veins,  or 
clouds,  composed  of  minute  crystals  of  some  other  mineral  or  of  any  kind  of 
foreign  substance.  The  spar  should  not  be  discolored  or  stained  by  the  presence 
of  any  clay,  iron  oxide,  or  other  material.  It  should  be  noted  that  many  of  the 
inclusions  and  imperfections  of  Iceland  spar  are  not  always  scattered  irregularly 
through  the  mineral  or  even  segregated  in  distinct  masses,  but  frequently  lie  in 
a  distinct  but  very  thin  plane  which  can  har'dly  be  seen  if  looked  at  on  edge.  In 
examining  a  piece  of  Iceland  spar  foi-  defects  tiie  piece  sliould  therefore  be  turned 
in  all  directions  while  held  to  the  light. 

"The  material  suitable  for  optical  uses  naturally  brings  the  highest  prices,  as 
it  has  to  be  at  least  of  the  dimensions  already  given.  Specimen  material  is 
generally  of  a  larger  size.  The  material  used  for  standardization,  chiefly 
chemical,  need  be  of  no  special  size,  and  the  smaller  pieces  are  as  usable  as  the 
larger  ones. 

"The  optical  variety  of  Iceland  spar  produced  in  the  United  States,  sold,  ner 
pound,  for  $3  to  .$4  in  1914.  about  $8  in  191.5,  and  as  high  as  $20  in  July.  1918. 
The  specimen  variety  sells  for  considerably  less,  and  material  for  standardization 
sells  for  from  $1   to  $2  a  pound. 

"The  following  firms  are  buyers  of  Iceland  spar  suitable  for  optical  use : 
Bausch  &  Lomb  Optical  Co.,  Purchasing  Department,  Rochester,  N.  Y.  :  Central 
Scientific  Co.,  460  Ohio  street  east,  Chicago.  111.  ;  Gilbert  S.  Dey,  Superintendent 
Optical  Department,  Eastman  Kodak  Co.,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

=Schaller,  W.  T..  Gems  and  precious  stone  in  1918:  U.  S.  Geol.  Surv.,  Min.  Res.  of 
U.  S.,  1918,  Part  II,  pp.  12-14,  1919. 


11  n  MINERAL    INDT'STRY    OP    CALIFORNIA. 

"The  market  for  specimen  spar  is  inegular,  as  the  demand  is  usually  very 
li^ht.  The  best  market  will  probably  be  found  with  some  of  the  larger  mineral 
dealers. 

"Standardization  material  may  be  sold  to  large  dealers  in. general  chemicals 
as  well  as  to  mineral  dealers. 

"Although  calcite  is,  next  to  quartz,  the  commonest  mineral,  the  only  locality' 
outside  of  Iceland  known  to  produce  tlie  variety  Iceland  spar  in  commercial 
iiuantity  is  in  Montana,  about  9  miles  from  Gray  Cliff,  Sweet  Grass  County,  on 
the  main  line  of  the  Northern  I'acific  Railway.  The  spar  occurs  in  a  nearly 
vertical  fissure  vein  from  3  to  8  feet  thick,  which  strikes  northwest,  traversing  a 
gneissic  rock  for  several  miles. 

"Brief  mention  of  the  Montana  occurrence  of  Iceland  spar  is  made  in  the 
reports  on  the  production  of  gems  and  precious  stones  in  Mineral  Resources  for 
1913  (p.  704)  and  1914  (p.  33.5).  C.  L.  Parsons,  of  the  Bureau  of  Mines,  has 
also  described  the  occurrence  and  material  in  Science,  Vol.  47,  No.  1221,  pp.  SOS- 
SOB.   May   24,   1918. 

"Jasper.     See  Agate. 

"Malachite.     Ore  of  copper,  pigment  for  paint. 

"Mariposite.     Pigment  for  paint. 

"Meerschaum.     Pipe  bowls;  cigar  and  cigarette  holders. 

"Optical  finorite.  Fluorite,  commonly  called  fluorspar,  is  a  common  mineral 
but  is  very  seldom  found  in  pieces  clear  enough  and  large  enough  to  be  of  special 
use  in  the  manufacture  of  certain  opticiil  lenses  and  prisms.  IHuorite  of  the 
requisite  qualities  as  described  below,  suitable  for  such  use,  is  known  as  'optical 
fluorite.'  Any  deposit  of  fluorite  may  yield  a  small  quantity  of  such  material, 
but  at  present  about  the  only  localities  known  to  produce  it  are  southern  Illinois, 
Meiringen,  Switzerland  ;  and  Obira,  Bungo,  Japan.  Optical  fluorite  is  cut  into 
lenses  and  placed  between  glass  lenses.  It  forms  the  apochromatic  objective  for 
microscopes  and  similar  optical  instruments,  the  fluorite  lens  correcting  the 
spherical  and  chromatic  errors  of  the  glass  lens  systems.  This  result  is  due  to 
the  low  refractive  power,  weak  color  dispersion,  and  single  refraction  of  fluorite. 
These  apochromatic  lenses  represent  the  finest  type  of  microscope  objectives 
made.  The  use  of  such  a  fluorite  lens  greatly  increases  the  value  of  a  micro- 
scope and  if  optical  fluorite  were  more  abundant  many  more  microscope  objec- 
tives would  be  equipped  with   such  lenses. 

"Optical  fluorite  is  also  used  in  the  lenses  of  certain  telescopes,  in  making 
prisms  for  spectrographs  in  ultra-violet  work,  and  in  other  optical  apparatus 
where  transparency  in  the  ultra-violet  and  infrared  parts  of  the  spectrum  is 
necessary. 

"Optical  fluorite  must  yield  or  contain  pieces  at  least  one-fourth  of  an  inch 
in  diameter,  which  must  be  clear  and  colorless  and  free  from  all  defects.  Defects 
consist  of  internal  cracks  or  cleavage  planes,  bubbles,  or  inclusions  of  dirt  or 
mineral  matter.  The  presence  of  faintly  developed  or  incipient  cleavage  planes 
or  fracture  surfaces  usually  may  be  determined,  if  not  readily  visible,  by  moist- 
ening tlie  specimen  with  kerosene.  The  material  must  not  show  any  anomalous 
double  refraction.  Absolutely  water-clear  material  is  of  the  highest  valvie,  but 
very  faint  tints  of  green,  yellow,  or  purple  do  not  render  the  material  useless. 

"Fluorite  suitable  for  optical  use  is  valued  at  from  $1  to  $10  a  pound,  accord- 
ing to  the  size  of  the  piece  suitable  for  cutting  as  well  as  to  its  quality.  The 
present  yearly  requirement  is  not  large — perhaps  several  hundred  pounds — but 
under  proper"  conditions  and  with  a  dependable  steady  supply  this  requirement 
may  be  increased. 

"Possible  buyers  of  optical  fluorite  are  :  Bausch  &  Lomb  Optical  Co.,  Rochester, 
N.  Y.  ;  Spencer  Lens  Co..  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  ;  Ward's  Natural  Science  Establishment, 
Rochester.  N.  Y.  ;  United  States  Bureau  of  Standards.  Washington,  D.  C. 

"Suitable  material  has  been  obtained  from  several  of  the  fluorite  mines  in 
Hardin  County,  111.,  and  may  also  occur  in  the  extension  of  this  fluorite  belt  in 
western  Kentucky.  Although  fluorite  is  found  in  many  other  states,  practically 
none  of  them  is  known  to  contain  any  'optical  fluorite.'* 

"Among  publications  dealing  with  optical  fluorite  are  the  following: 

"Pogue.  J.  E.,  Optical  fluorite  in  southern  Illinois:  Separate  from  Bull.  3S, 
Illinois  State  Geol.  Survey.  Urbana,  111..   191S. 

"Burchard.  E.  F.,  Fluorsnar  and  cryolite  in  1917  :  V.  S.  Geol.  Survey,  Mineral 
Resources.  1918,  pt.   2,  pp.   301-302.   1918. 

"U.  S.  Bureau  of  Standards,  Washington,  D.  C. :  Circular  letter  dated  May  8, 
1918. 

'•Quarts.     See  Rock  crystal. 

"Rock  n-ystal.  The  perfectly  clear  and  colorless  variety  of  quartz  is  called 
rock  crystal.  It  furnishes  the  material  for  certain  special  glasses  and  fu.sed 
silica  ware  ;  and  it  is  used  in  wedges  for  microscopic  work,  as  spectographic 
prisms  for  special  researches,  and  as  mechanical  bearings.  A  use  in  connection 
with  certain  sounding  boxes  has  recently  been  developed. 

"Sepiolite.     See  Meerschaum. 


^Since  the  above  was  written,  there  has  been  some  production  of  optical  Iceland 
spar  from  Modoc  County,  California. 

■•A  small  amount  of  optical  fluorite  was  reported  sold  In  1918  from  material 
mined  in  Riverside  County,  California. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNL'AL   PRODUCTION.  117 

'Sapphire.  The  variety  of  gem  corundum  used  for  other  purposes  than  jewelry- 
is  called  sapphire,  irrespective  of  its  color.  It  is  used  for  mechanical  bearings 
and  pivot  supports,  especially  in  watches  and  phonograph  needles  (mostly  arti- 
ficial sapphire). 

"Topaz.     Abrasive. 

"Tourmaline.  In  the  tourmaline  tongs  or  in  polarizing  forceps,  a  very  simple 
form  of  polariscope." 

GRAPHITE. 

Bibliographir.  State  .Aliiieralopist  Reports  XI II.  XIV,  XV,  XVII. 
Biilietin  HI.     U.  S.  G.  S.,  Miii.  Kos.,  1914,  I't.  II. 

Orai)liite  lias  hoon  produced  from  time  to  time  in  the  state,  coming 
principally  from  Sonoma  and  Los  Aniieles  counties.  It  is  difficult  for 
these  deposits,  ^vhich  must  be  concentrated,  to  compete  with  foreign 
supplies,  Avhich  go  on  the  market  almost  directly  as  they  come  from  the 
deposit.  Graphite  ores  are  concentrated  Avith  considerable  difficulty, 
and  the  electric  process  of  manufacturing  artiticial  graphite  from  coal 
has  been  perfected  to  such  a  degree  that  only  deposits  of  natural 
graphite  of  a  superior  quality  can  be  exploited  with  any  certainty  of 
success'. 

According  to  tlie  U.  8.  Geological  Survey,  operators  in  this  country 
who  are  working  disseminated  flake  deposits  must  depend  on  their  X'o.  1 
and  2  Hake  for  their  profit.  Graphite  dust  is  merely  a  by-product  and 
is  salabji^  only  at  a  low  i)rice.  Inii)roved  inetliods  of  graphite  milling 
adoi)ted  i)romise  to  increase  largely  the  production  of  tlake  of  better 
grade. 

The  principal  value  of  graphite  is  on  account  of  its  infusibility  and 
resistance  to  the  action  of  molten  metals.  It  is  also  largely  used  in  the 
manufacture  of  electrical  appliances,  of  'lead'  pencils,  as  a  lubricant, 
as  stove  polish,  paints,  and  in  many  other  ways.  Amorphous  graphite, 
commonly  carrying  many  impurities,  bring^s  a  much  lower  price.  For 
some  purposes,  such  as  fouiulrv  facings,  etc.,  the  low-grade  material  is 
satisfactory.  Among  the  newer  uses  for  graphite  is  the  prevention  of 
formation  of  scale  in  boilers.  The  action  is  a  mechanical  one.  Being 
soft  and  slippery,  the  graphite  prevents  the  particles  of  scale  from 
adhering  to  one  anotlicr  or  to  the  boiler  and  they  are  thus  ea>sily 
removed. 

The  price  increases  Avith  the  grade  of  material,  the  best  quality 
crystalline  variety  being  quoted  at  present  at  6f-6^(*  per  pound  (Ceylon 
lumps)  ;  with  American  tlake  at  4(^-a(i  per  pound  f.o.b.  mine. 

The  coarser  flakes  are  necessar}^  for  crucibles,  as  they  help  to  bind  the 
clay  together  in  addition  to  their  refractory  service.  Since  the  close 
of  hostilities  in  Europe,  prices  have  declined  to  pre-war  levels;  and 
im]>orTs  have  been  resumed  from  Ceylon,  Canada,  Madagascar,  Mexico 
and  Korea,  of  a  total  of  7-19()  terns  valued  at  .^452, 076  in  1921. 

Occurrence  of  graphite  has  been  reported  at  various  times  from 
Calaveras,  Fresno,  Imperial,  Los  Angeles,  ^Mendocino,  San  Bernardino, 
San  Diego,  Siskiyou.  Sonoma  and  Tuolumne  counties. 

During  1922  an  increased  production  was  reported  from  Los  Angeles 
( "ounty.     It  was  concentrated  from  a  disseminated  ore,  and  was  used 


I 


1.18 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


for  paint  and  foundry  facing.  As  there  was  but  a  single  operator, 
the  figures  are  concealed  under  the  'Unapportioned'  item.  The  pro- 
duction, by  years,  has  been  as  follows : 


Tear 

Pounds 

Value 

1901    

128,000 
84,000 

$4,480 
1,680 

1902 

1903   

1913  .. 

2,500 

ih 

1914   - 

1915   

1916   

29,190 
.*770,000 

*624,000 

2,33-5 

1917   

1 

1918   1 

1919   

f 

37,225 

1920   1 

1921   

) 

1922   ^_                                                   ( 

26,160 

Totals 

1,637,690 

$71,905 

*Annual  details  concealed  under  'Unapportioned,'  on  account  of  a  single  producer. 

GYPSUM. 

BihlioorapJvi:  Reports  XIV.   XV,  XVII,  XVIII.     Bulletins  38, 
67,  91.    IT.  S.  Geol.  Surv.,  Bull.  223,  413,  430,  697. 

Gypsum  is  widely-  distributed  throughout  the  state,  and  has  been 
produced  to  some  extent,  to  supply  fertilizer  manufacturers  as  well  as 
those  of  plaster  and  cement. 

During  1922,  producers  in  ImjH'rial  and  San  Bernardino  counties 
took  out  a  total  of  47,084  tons,  valued  at  $188,336,  compared  with 
37,412  tons,  valued  at  $78,875  in  1921. 

Uses. 

The  mcst  important  use  of  gypsum  is  in  the  calcined  form  where  it 
is  utilized  in  the  manufacture  of  various  hard-wall  plasters  and  plaster 
board.  As  plaster  of  paris,  it  plays  a  very  important  part  in  surgical 
work.  Approximately  2%  of  raw  gypsum  is  added  in  the  manufacture 
of  Portland  cement  ,iust  before  the  final  grinding.  In  this  application, 
the  gypsum  acts  as  a  retarder  to  the  set  of  the  cement. 

During  the  past  year  about  76%  of  the  total  gypsum  mined  in  thei 
United  States  went  into  the  manufacture  of  gypsum  plasters  of  various] 
brands.^  The  increased  use  of  this  plastering  material  has  encouraged  | 
tlie  formation  of  new  concerns  at  a  number  of  localities  throughout  the  i 
country,  one  of  which  is  in  Imperial  County,  California.  The  use  of 
gypsum  tile  for  nonbearing  fireproof  partitions,  stairway  and  elevator] 
enclosures,  and  the  protection  of  steel  columns,  girders  and  beams,  hasj 
increased  to  an  extent  to  .justifv  the  construction  of  new  plants  andj 
machinery  at  the  manufacturers'  mills. 

"Similar  advance.'*  are  noted  in  respect  to  the  use  of  gypsum  plaster  board  andl 
gypsum  wall  hoard  in  building  construction.  Gypsum  plaster  board,  recognized  as  an 
incombustible  lathing  material,  is  in  great  demand  for  nonbearing  incombustible  parti- 
tions in  fireproof  construction  wlien  secured  to  metal  supports  and  covered  with  gypsum  j 
plaster.  More  recent  uses  of  gypsum  plaster  board  include  suspended  ceilings,  insula- 
tion and  lire  protection.  Tliis  material  is  also  being  used  upon  the  roof  boards  and 
under  wood  shingles,  and  between  the  wood  sheathing  and  finished  siding  for  fire 
protection  purposes  and  insulation. 


'Marani,  V.  C,  Gypsum  industry's  growth  in  1922 
Dec.   .SO.  1922. 


Rock  Products,  Vol.  XXV,  p.  53. 


STATISTICS   OP    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  119 

"The  scarcity  of  plasterers  has  contributed  to  a  substantial  increase  in  the  use  of 
Kvnsum  wall  boards  which  constitute  an  interior  wall,  ceiling  and  partition  finish  for 
all  types  of  buildings.  The  popular  desire  for  an  interior  finish  of  this  character 
wliich  is  incombustiblf  has  necessitated  provisions  for  a  greater  output  and  a  standard- 
ized product.  Manufacturers  of  this  product  have  increased  their  plant  facilities,  and 
have  included  sucli  mechanical  changes  in  the  machinery  as  will  assure  a  product  of 
uniform  strength  and  thickness.  Gypsum  boards  are  manufactured  to  meet  the  fire 
tost  and  requirements  of  the  Underwriters'  Laboratories,  Inc.,  and  in  conformity  with 
the  strength  and  dimension  specifications  of  the  American  Society  for  Testing 
I^Ititoriiils. 

"Building  construction  economics,  which  involve  consideration  of  'dead  load'  to  be 
provided  for,  rapid  erection,  quick  setting,  etc.,  have  contributed  to  the  prevailing  use 
of  reinforced  gypsum  in  the  construction  of  fireproof  fioors  and  roofs.  The  improve- 
ments during  the  past  years  in  this  type  of  construction  are  noticeable  in  the  character 
and  method  of  reinforcing,  a  more  dense  and  uniform  product  and,  in  the  case  of  pre- 
cast structural  tile  or  slabs,  .ioint  details  which  assure  more  satisfactory  results  and 
provide  for  any  unequal  spacing  of  tlie  steel  supports. 

"More  recent  developments  in  the  use  of  gj'psum  for  floor  or  roof  construction  in 
one  instance  involve  tlie  use  of  standard  rolled  steel  sections  designed  to  carry  the 
full  load.  The  construction  is  completed  by  attaching  precast  reinforced  gypsum  slabs 
on  top  to  form  the  floor  and  below  for  the  ceiling. 

"Another  new  roof  construction  consists  of  steel  supports  between  which  a  gypsum 
plaster  board  is  set  (as  a  form)  over  which  the  reinforcement  is  placed,  the  whole 
being  covered  with  the  gypsum,  which  is  poured-in-place.  The  plaster  board  form  is 
not  removed.  The  importance  of  gypsum  floor  and  roof  constructions,  aside  from  the 
fire  protection  afforded,  lies  in  the  weight,  which  in  some  designs  is  only  48  lb.  to  the 
cubic  foot.  ,   .      , 

"A  better  knowledge  of  the  chemical  and  physical  properties  of  calcined  gypsum 
has  made  possible  the  use  of  gypsum,  in  the  form  of  tile,  as  a  void  filler  in  combina- 
tion systems  in  which  reinforced  concrete  T-beams  are  designed  to  carry  the  full 
'dead' "and  'live'  loads.  The  light  weight  of  gj^psum  permits  the  use  of  a  larger  void 
filler  than  usual  and,  consequently,  greater  spacing  of  the  concrete  beams.  In  work 
involving  about  50,000  sq.  ft.  or  more  it  is  practicable  to  cast  the  gypsum  tile  on 
the  job. 

•  *  «  ♦  •  •  • 

"Its  Use  for  Insulation  Purposes. 

"Tlie  use  of  gypsum  for  purely  insulation  purposes  is  being  fostered  by  American 
enterprise.  A  new,  economical  and  practical  process  consists  of  introducing  into  the 
calcined  gvpsum  when  mixing  certain  chemicals  in  powdered  form  up  to  a  possible 
7  per  cent' of  the  bulk.  The  resultant  chemical  action  just  prior  to  the  setting  period 
causes  the  ma.ss  to  increase  from  two  to  three  times  its  original  bulk,  yielding  an 
extremely  porous  material  of  cellular  formation  which,  according  to  the  amount  of 
chemical  uses,  can  be  made  to  weigh  as  little  as  9  lb.  to  the  cubic  foot.  Because  this 
material  sets  qiiicklv  it  can  be  noured  in  place,  or  in  forms,  for  the  purpose  desired. 
The  logical  field  for  this  material  will  be  the  insulation  of  dwelling-house  exterior 
walls  and  the  ceilings  and  attics." 

Gypsum  plaster  is  used  as  a  binder  in  molding  carborundum  grinding 
Avheels.  The  eommon  blackboard  crayon  known  as  'chalk'  is  made  of 
finely  pulverized  raw  gypsum  to  which  a  binder  has  been  added;  and 
for  colored  crayons  a  pigment  is  also  added. 

The  action  of  gypsum  as  a  fertilizer  was  formerly  considered  to  be 
indirect'-;  that  it  was  not  a  food  for  plants,  but  was  supposed  to  act  on 
the  double  silicate  of  magnesia  and  potash  in  the  soil,  freeing  the  mag- 
nesia and  pota.sh.  so  that  they  become  available  as  plant  food.  Its  use 
was  believed  to  be  beiietieial  only  if  these  elements  are  present  in  the 
soil.  More  recently,  investigations  are  stated  to  prove  that  gypsum 
serves  as  a  source  of  both  sulphur  and  calcium,  which  are  plant  foods. 

Some  authorities  hold  that  land  plaster  tends  to  make  nonporous  clay 
soils  more  pervious  to  water  and  to  make  sandy  soils  less  pervious. 
Ground  gypsum  has  an  affinity  for  water  and  will  draw  moisture  from 
the  atmosphere,  so  it  keeps  moisture  in  the  soil  and  is  of  value  to  the 
farmer  who  is  starting  grain  and  grass  crops,  as  it  holds  moisture  where 
the  roots  of  the  small  plants  most  need  it.  The  use  of  ground  gypsum 
or  land  plaster  in  a  dry,  hot  sea.son  may  draw  enough  moisture  from 
the  atmosphere  to  save  a  crop  from  damage  by  drought.  Land  plaster 
is  employed  to  neutralize  the  hiaek  alkali  that  forms  in  many  of  the 
soils  of  arid  regions,  as  in  parts  of  California,  Nevada  and  TUali. 

=U.  S.  G.  S.  Press  Bulletin  No.  371,  .Tuly,  lOlS,  p.  4. 


120 


MINEKAI;    IXDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Land  plaster  may  l)e  ai)i)lie(l  to  the  soil  l)y  drilling,  or  scattered  in 
the  hill,  or  it  may  be  sowed  hroadea.st,  in  quantities  ranging  from  200     , 
to  500  pounds  to  the  acre.  ^ 

Total    Production   of  Gypsum    in    California. 

Production  of  gypsum  annually  in  California  since  such  records  have 
been  compiled  by  this  Bureau  is  as  follows : 


Tear 


Tons 


Value 


1887 
1888 
1889 
1890 
1891 
1892 
1893 
1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 


2,700 
2,500 
3,000 
3,000 
2,000 
2,000 
1,620 
2,446 
5.158 
1,310 
2,200 
3,100 
3,663 
2,522 
3.875 

10,200 
6,914 
8,350 

12,859 


$27,000 
25.000 
30,000 
30,000 
20.000 
20.000 
14,280 
24.584 
51.014 
12,580 
19,250 
23.600 
14.950 
10,088 
38,750 
53,  .%0 
46,441 
56.592 
54.500 


Tear 


Tons 


Value 


1906 

1907  . 

1908  , 

1909  , 
1910 
1911 
1912 
1913 
1914 
1915 
1916 
1917 
1918, 
1919 
1920 
1921 
1922 


21.000 

$69,000 

8.900 

57,700 

34,600 

155,400 

30.700 

138.176 

45.294 

129.152 

31.457 

101.475 

37.529 

117.388 

47,100 

135.050 

29.734 

78,375 

20,200 

48,953 

33,384 

59,533 

30,825 

56,840 

19.695 

37.176 

19.813 

50,579 

20.507 

92.535 

37.412 

78.87.5 

47,084 

188,336 

594.642 

$2,166,672 

INFUSORIAL  and    DIATOMACEOUS    EARTH. 

BibUuqniphii:  State  ^Mineralogist  Reports  IT.  XII.  XIII.  XIV, 
XV,  XVII,  XVIIT.  Bulletins  38,  67.  Am.  Inst.  Min.  Eng., 
Bull.  104,  August,  1915,  pp.  1539-1550.  U.  S.  Bur.  of  Mines, 
Rep.  of  Investigations:  Serial  No.  2431,  Jan.,  1923.  Eng.  & 
I\Iiii.  Jonr.-Press,  Vol.  115.  ]ip.  1152-1154.  June  30,  1923. 

Infusorial  and  diatomaeeous  earths — sometimes  called  tripolite — are 
very  light  and  extremely  porous,  chalk-like  materials  composed  of  pure 
silica  (chalk,  being  calcareous)  which  have  been  laid  down  under  water 
and  consist  of  the  remains  of  microscopical  infusoria  and  diatoms. 
The  former  are  animal  remains,  and  the  latter  are  from  plants.  The 
principal  commercial  use  of  this  material  is  as  an  absorbent.  It  is  also 
employed  in  the  manufacture  of  scouring  soap  and  polishing  powders; 
for  filtration  purposes;  in  making  some  classes  of  refractory  brick;  and 
as  an  insulating  medium  both  in  heating  and  refrigeration.  It  is  a 
first-class  nonconductor  of  heat,  where  high  temperatures  are  employed, 
such  as  around  steel  and  gas  plants  and  power  houses.  In  such  cases, 
it  is  built  in  as  an  insulating  layer  in  furnace  walls.  In  Germany, 
under  the  name  '  kieselguhr, '  it  was  used  as  an  absorlient  for  nitro- 
glycerine in  the  early  manufacture  of  dynamite. 

As  a  nonconductor  of  heat  it  has  been  used  alone  or  witli  other  mate- 
rials as  a  covering  for  boilers,  steam  pipes,  and  safes  and  in  fireproof 


1 


STATISTICS    OK    ANMAL    I'KODl  ITIUX.  121 

cements.  It  is  used  largely  l)y  paint  manufacturers  as  a  wood  filler, 
l^oiled  -with  slicllac  it  is  made  into  records  for  talking  machines.  It  has 
l)cen  used  for  absorbing  licjuid  manures  so  that  they  could  be  utilized 
as  fertilizers,  and  as  a  source  of  silica  in  making  water-glass  as  well  as 
in  the  manufacture  of  cement,  tile  glazing,  artificial  stone,  ultra-marine 
and  other  pigments  of  aniline  and  alizarine  colors,  paper  fillimr,  sealing 
wax,  fireworks,  hard-rubber  objects,  nuitches,  and  i)apier  mache,  and 
for  solidifying  bromide.  For  making  insulating  brick  the  material  is 
sawed  into  l)locks,  and  for  all  other  purposes  it  is  ground  and  screened. 

Tlie  most  important  deposits  in  Califoi'iiia  thus  fai'  known  are  located 
in  Monterey,  (Grange,  San  Luis  Obispo,  and  Santa  Barbara  counties. 
The  Santa  Barbara  matei-ial  is  diatomaceous  and  is  of  a  superior 
quality.  Infusorial  earth  is  also  found  in  Fresno,  Kern,  Los  Angeles, 
Plumas,  San  Benito.  San  Bernardino.  San  Joaiinin,  Shasta,  Sonoma, 
and  Tehama  counties. 

The  following  description  of  the  deposit  and  plant  of  the  Celite 
Products  Company  at  Lompoc,  Santa  Barbara  County,  is  quoted  from 
a  recent  paper  published  by  the  U.  S.  Bureau  of  mines  ■} 

"The  chaiacter  of  tlie  material  varies  in  different  iiart.s  of  the  beil  and  only  selected 
parts  wliere  the  overburden  is  lisht,  are  quarried.  Also,  certain  parts  of  the  bed  are 
used  for  specific  purposes.  After  cleaninK  off  tlie  overburden,  the  diatomaceous  earth 
is  <iuarried  by  means  of  a  clianmling-  macliine  developed  Ijy  tlie  company.  Cuts  are 
made  acro.ss  tlie  face  4  feet  deei)  and  i  feet  apait.  'J'lie  largest  part  of  the  production 
is  used  for  insulating  brick,  which  are  sawed  on  the  jiround  from  the  bloi'ks  cut  l)y 
the  channeling-  machines.  The  machine  used  for  sawing  the  brick  was  als(3  developed 
by  tlie  company.  The  material  desii-ed  for  grinding  is  quarried,  after  channeling,  b.v 
pick  and  shovel  ;md  loaded  by  hand  into  horse-drawn  wagons  and  then  hauled  to  a 
<ir.\-ing  >-ard.  The  brick  are  hauled  to  a  drying  yai-d  in  light  tram  cars.  After  sun- 
drxing,  the  brick  are  hauled  to  the  railroad,  and  the  other  product  to  the  mill  in  motor 
trucks. 

"At  the  mill,  the  sun-dried  diatomaceous  earth  is  fed  by  hand  into  a  nimpact 
pulverizer,  which  is  moved  along  the  bottom  of  the  storage  bin.  The  pulverized 
material  is  di-awii  tliiough  galvanized  iron  tul^ing  by  an  exhaust  fan  to  tlie  main 
building  where  it  is  iiacked  for  sliipment  in  bags.  The  unbroken  single  diatoms  are 
desired  for  filtering  and  some  other  uses.  The  dust,  consisting  of  the  finer  particles 
and  broken  diatoms,  which  does  not  settle  in  the  V)ins  of  Ihe  main  l)uilding,  is  drawn 
into  a  bag  house  where  it  is  filtei-ed  out  of  the  air.  This  material  is  u.sed  for  polishes 
and  other  similar  purposes.     All  crushing  is  done  dry. 

"The  Kleselguhr  Is  nearly  pure  silica  and  has  the  capacity  of  absorbing  several 
times  its  weight  of  li<iiiids.  r>r.  Herbert  Insley,  petrologist,  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Mines, 
examined  some  of  the  samples  under  the  microscope  and  made  the   following  report: 

'This  material  is  very  light  in  weight  due  in  part  to  its  great  porosity.  Under  the 
microscope,  the  materhil  was  found  to  be  made  up  almost  wholly  of  the  tests  or 
skeletons  of  diatom.s.  These  tests  are  composed  of  practicall.v  pure  silica.  The  silica 
is  evidently  amorphous  for  there  is  no  evidence  of  double  refraction  between  crossed 
nicols.  Most  of  the  skeletons  were  unbroken.  Complete  skeletons  more  than  three- 
tenths  of  a  millimeter  in  greatest  dimension  were  not  oli.served.  although  some  of  the 
skeletons  of  which  fragments  were  observed  must  have  been  at  least  seven-tenths  of  a 
millimeter  in  length.  Disk-like  diatoms  containing  hexagonal  perforations  or  depres- 
sions and  long,  slender  spine-like  diatoms  are  very  common.' 

"Photomicrographs  made  by  Dr.  Insley  show  considerable  fine  dust  .and  many  sharp- 
edsed   narticles. 

"The  deposit  Is  damp  when  first  exposed,  but  during  tlie  summer  months,  the  air  is 
very  dry  and  the  wind  blows  almost  continuou.sly,  hence  the  surface  is  soon  dried. 
Since  the  kleselguhr  is  very  light,   the  dust  Is  easily  picked  up  by  the  wind." 

As  over  95  per  cent  of  the  output  in  California  is  from  a  single 
operator,  we  have  concealed  the  exact  figures  under  the  'Unappor- 
tioned'  item  in  the  state  and  county  totals.  There  were  three  operators 
in  1922  in  San  Luis  Obispo  and  Santa  Barbara  counties. 

'Gardner.  K.  ])..  Mining  diatomaceous  earth  at  Lompoc,  Cillfonila  :  U.  S.  B.  of  M.. 
Reports  of  Investigations  Serial  No.  2431,  .Ian.  102.3. 


122 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA, 


Total   Production  of  Diatomaceous   Earth   in   California. 

The  first  recorded  production  of  these  materials  in  California 
occurred  in  1889 ;  total  amount  and  value  of  output,  to  date,  are  as 
follows : 


i 


Year 


1889 
1890 
1891 
1892 
1893 
1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 
1906 


Tons 


39 


50 
51 


422 
2,703 
6,950 
3,000 

2,430 


Value 


$1,335 


Year 


2,000 
2,040 


200 


2,532 

16,015 

112.282 

15,000 

14,400 


1907 
1908 
1909 
1910 
1911 
1912 
1913 
1914 
1915 
1916 
1917 
1918 
1919 
1920 
1921 
1922 


Tons 


Value 


2,531 

2,950 

500 

1,843 

2,194 

4.129 

8,645 

12,840 

12.400 

15.322 

24.301 

35.963 

40.200 

60,764 

*90,739 


Totals. 


330,971 


$28,948 

32,012 

3,500 

17.617 

19,670 

17,074 

35,968 

80.350 

62,000 

80.649 

127,510 

189.459 

217,800 

1.056,260 

1,016,675 


$3,151,296 


♦Annual  details  concealed  under  'unapportioned.' 

LIMESTONE. 

•  Bihliography.  State  Mineralogist  Reports  IV,  XII,  XIII,  XIV, 
XV,  XVII,  XVIII.  Bulletins  38,  91.  Oregon  Agr.  College, 
Extension  Bulletin  305. 

Limestone  was  produced  in  nine  counties  during  1922,  to  the  amount 
of  84,382  tons,  values  at  $282,181,  being  a  slight  increase  in  tonnage 
hut  a  decrease  in  value  from  the  1921  output  of  75.921  tons,  worth 
$305,912. 

The  amount  here  given  does  not  include  the  limestone  used  in  the 
manufacture  of  cement,  nor  of  lime  for  building  purposes ;  but  accounts 
for  that  utilized  as  a  smelter  and  foundry  flux,  for  glass  and  sugar 
making,  and  other  special,  chemical  and  manufacturing  processes.  It 
also  includes  that  utilized  for  fertilizers  (agricultural  'lime'),  'roofing 
gravel,'  paint  filler,  whiting  for  paint,  putty,  kalsomine,  terrazzo,  pav- 
ing dust,  concrete  filler,  chicken  grit,  carbon  dioxide  gas,  'paving 
compound,'  and  facing  dust  for  concrete  pipe.  That  indicated  in  the 
table  below  as  coming  from  Santa  Clara  County  is  a  calcareous  marl 
sold  for  agricultural  purposes.  Of  the  total  product  in  1922,  approxi- 
mately 25,000  tons  valued  at  $101,700  was  used  for  agricultural 
purposes. 

In  agriculture,  the  chief  reason  for  the  use  of  lime  is  now  recognized 
to  be  that  of  correcting  soil  acidity.  Lime  in  stated  to  be  especially 
necessary  for  the  proper  development  of  the  bacteria  in  the  nodules  on 
the  loots  of  legumes  such  as  the  clovers  and  alfalfa.  It  will  also 
combine  with  some  of  the  plant  food  materials  already  in  the  .soil  to 
make  them  more  readily  availalile,  and  will  supply  any  lack  of  cHlcium 


i 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


123 


as  a  plant  food  that  may  exist  in  the  soil.     To  some  extent,  certain 
forms  of  lime  will  make  heavy  soils  more  friable,  thus  aiding;  aeration, 
cultivation  and  drainage.     It  may  be  applied,  ground,  in  either  the 
burned  or  unburned  form,  or  as  hydrated  lime. 
Distribution  of  the  1922  output  was  as  follows: 


County 


Tons 


Value 


El   Dorado   — -— — 

Los  Ang-oles 

San  Bernardino  

Santa  Cruz — 

Contra  Costa,  Inyo,  Santa  Clara^,  Siskiyou,  Tulare*. 


42,200 

$113,709 

12,096 

35,163 

2,200 

7,800 

4,581 

20,534 

23,3(K 

104,970 

Totals- 


84,382 


$282,181 


•Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 
^Calcareous  marl,  used  for  fertilizer. 

Limestone   Production  of  California,  by  Years. 

The  following  tabulation  gives  the  amounts  and  value  of  'industrial' 
limestone  produced  in  California  b}'  years  since  1894  when  compilation 
of  such  records  was  begun  bj^  the  State  Mining  Bureau.  These  ton- 
nages consist  principally  of  limestone  utilized  for  flux,  glass  and  sugar 
making,  agricultural,  chemical,  and  other  special  industrial  purposes. 
That  utilized  in  cement  manufacture  is  not  included. 


Year 


Tons 


Value 


1894  15,420 

1695 - —  I  71,355 

189C  — — ■  68,184 

1S97  '  36,796 

1808 ;  27,686 

]'99 -- '  30,769 

1900  - j  32,791 

1901 — —  I  76,937 

1902 - I  71,422 

1903  '  125,919 

1904  ....'  40,207 

1905  — 192,749 

]9D(5  I  80,262 

1907  ;  230,985 

1918 273,890 

1909 i  337,676 


$19,275 

71,690 

71,112 

38,5c6 

24,5)8 

29,185 

.71,532 

99,415 

9'),524 

163,988 

87,207 

323,325 

162,827 

406,041 

597,264 

419,921 


Year 


1910 

1911   

1012  

1913 

1914  

1915  — 

1916 , 

1917 , 

1918  

1919 

1920 

1921 

1022 

Totals 


Tons 


681,635 

516,398 

613,375 

301,918 

672,272 

146,324 

187,521 

237,279 

208,568 

88,291 

90,120 

75,921 

84,382 


Value 


5,520,050 


$581,208 
452,790 
570,248 
274,455 
517,713 
156,288 
217,733 
356,396 
456,258 
248,145 
298,197 
305,912 
282,181 


$7,053,964 


LITHIA. 


Bihliography :  State  Mineralogist  Reports  II,  IV,  XIV. 
38,  67. 


Bulletins 


Lithia  mica,  lepidolite  (a  silicate  of  lithium  et  al.)  utilized  in  the 
manufacture  of  artificial  mineral  water,  fireworks,  glass,  etc.,  has  been 
mined  in  San  Diego  County  since  1899,  except  between  1905  and  1915. 
Some  amblygonite,  a  lithium  phosphate,  has  also  been  obtained  from 
pockets  associated  with  the  gem  tourmalines.  In  1922  there  was  a 
slight  droj)  in  the  yield  of  lepidolite,  the  output  being  utilized  in  glass 
manufacture.  As  there  Avas  only  a  single  producer,  the  figures  are 
concealed  under  the  'unapportioned'  item.  The  average  value  reported 
was  $15.30  per  ton.  f.o.b.  rail-ship]iiiig  point. 


124  MINERAIi    INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 

Lithia  miea  total  production  in  the  state  has  been  as  follows: 


Tear 

Tods 

Value 

Tear 

Tons 

Value 

1899 

124 
440 
1,100 
822 
700 
641 
25 

$4,600 
11,000 
27,500 
31.880 
27.300 
25,000 
276 

1916 

71 

880 

4,111 

800 

10.046 

*  1,365 

$1,065 

8,800 

73.998 

14,400 

153,502 

20,781 

1900 

1917 

1901 

1918 

1902 

1919 

1903 

1920 

1901  

1905 

1Q06 

1921  1 

1922 \ 

Totals 

1915 

91 

1,36.5 

21,216 

$401,467 

♦Annual  details  concealed  under  'Unapportioned.' 


MICA. 

Bibliograplitj  :  IState  .Mim-ra legist  Kcports  II,  IV.  Bulletins  38,  67, 
91.  U.  S.  Geol.  Survv.,  Bull.  740;  Min.  Res.  of  U.  S.  Eng.  & 
Min.  Jonr.-Press,  Vol.  115,  pp.  55-60,  Jan.  13,  1923. 

No  commercial  production  of  mica  lias  recently  been  reported  in 
California.     Production  in  previous  years  has  been  as  follows: 


Year 

Tons 

Value 

1902   

50 
50 
50 

$2,500 

1903   .  .              .        

3,800 

1904   _       _ 

3,000 

Totals 

150 

$9,300 

The  following  summary  of  the  uses  and  characteristics  of  mica  is 
quoted  from  a  recent  article  by  Bowles  :^ 

"Practically  all  marketable  mica  is  of  the  miiscovitL-  or  phlogopite  types.  Biotite 
and  chlorite  are  sold  in  pulverized  form,  but  the  amount  so  used  is  so  small  that  no 
further  mention  of  them  need  be  made.  Mica  falls  generally  into  three  classes:  sheet 
mica,  including  punch  ;  splittings,  and  scrap.  Slieet  mica  is  used  chiefly  for  electrical 
purposes  and  for  glazing;  splittings  are  made  into  built-up  mica;  scrap  is  ground  to 
a  Dowder. 

"Mica  to  be  classified  as  sheet  must  yield  a  rectangle  of  at  least  IJ  x  2  in.,  must 
split  evenly  and  freely,  be  free  from  cracks,  rulings,  or  plications,  and  reasonably  free 
from  inclusions  of  foreign  matter,  tliough  stains  of  a  nonconducting  cliaracter  are 
permissiVile  for  some  uses.  Ability  to  witlistand  heat  and  higli  electrical  resistance 
have  led  to  a  wide  application  of  slieet  mica  in  tlie  electrical  industries.  The  electrical 
uses  of  slTeet  mica  greatly  exceed  all  others  in  quantit.v  and  value  of  the  material 
used.  Mica  has  become  so  essential  that  some  of  the  larger  electrical  companies  own 
and  operate  their  own  mica  mines,  which  suppl>'  onl.v  a  part  of  their  requirements. 
An  important  use  of  electrical  mica  is  for  inter-leaving  between  the  copper  segments 
of  commutators.  Its  adaptability  for  such  a  purpose  depends  chiefly  on  its  dielectric 
strengtli — tliat  is,  its  ability  to  resist  disruptive  discharge  due  to  difference  in  potential 
between  the  segments  on  either  side  of  it.  Only  liigii-grade  mica  free  from  iron 
impurities,  pin  holes,  or  cracks  may  be  so  used.  A  soft  variety  of  mica  is  preferable, 
in  order  tliat  tlie  copper  and  mica  may  wear  down  evenly,  and  in  this  respect  it  is 
claimed  tliat  Canadian  amber  mica  is  superior  to  all  others. 

"Specifications  of  Mica  for   Electrical   Use. 

'"I'hiii  lilnis  aic  used  in  \ast  numbers  in  condensers  for  magnetos  and  wireless 
aiiparatus.  A  liigli  qualit.v  (jf  mica  is  demanded  for  condenser  use.  It  nuist  be  clear 
1  uliy,  colorless  or  greenish,  must  split  easily  into  smooth  plates  one-thousandth  of  an 
iiuh  thick,  and  must  l)e  free  from  tracks,  holes,  stains,  spots,  wrinkles,  rulings,  air 
l>ul)bles.  or  knots  in  any  form.  Large  sizes  are  not  usually  recjuired,  1  J  x  2  or  2  x  3  in, 
being  tliose  ordinarily  used.  For  wireless  outfits  each  film  must  be  capable  of  with- 
standing 2(»,(.H)ii  \()lts.  For  magneto  condensers  a  much  lower  electrical  resistance  is 
permissilale. 


'Bowles,  Oliver,  The  marketing  of  mica:  Eng.  &  Min.  Jour.-Press,  Vol.  115,  pp, 
60.  .Ian.  13,  3  92.1. 


55- 


STATISTICS    OF    ANNIAL    I'UODrCTlON.  125 

"As  sheets  in  groatly  divorsilieJ  shapes,  or  as  washers  and  tubes,  niioa  is  used 
extensively  as  an  insuUitor  in  dj'namos  and  in  various  littiiiKs  "r  appliani'cs,  in  fuse 
boxes,  sockets,  insulators,  electric  lieaters,  tlatirons,  and  telephones.  The  highest 
grades  of  electrical  mica  are  reijuired  for  condensers  and  spark  plugs,  Viut  for  uses 
where  low  voltage  currents  are  employed  less  perfect  mica,  containing  a  limited 
amount  of  impurities,  may  be  employed. 

"As  a  heat-resisting  transparent  medium,  sheet  mica  has  various  uses.  It  is 
widel.v  employed  for  stove  windows,  but  this  use  has  declined  to  a  considerable  extent. 
A  hard  and  rigid  mica  that  is  nearly  clear  is  best  suited  for  stove  fronts.  I>oniestic 
mica,  particularly  mica  from  North  Carolina,  is  well  adapted  for  this  use.  Stove  No.  1 
must  be  free  from  cracks  and  stains,  l>ut  may  contain  air  l)ubbles.  Stove  No.  2  may 
be  spotted  and  stained  to  a  limiti-d  extent.  High-grade  stove  mica  commands  a  higher 
price  tlian  electrical  mica,  because  for  the  most  part  larger  sizes  are  demanded.  Elec- 
trical companies  that  opeiale  their  own  mines  sell  tlie  lareer  sizes  of  clear  sheet  for 
glazing,  and  utilize  the  smaller  sizes  in  electrical  work.  Mica  is  also  used  in  furnace 
and  bake-oven  sight-holes,  heat  screens,  lamp  chimneys,  canopies  and  shades,  particu- 
larly for  gas  mantles,  and  also  for  military  lanterns  and  in  lantern  slides.  Micalite  is 
a  trade  name  given  to  sheet  mica  used  in  mica  chimneys,  canopies,  and  similar 
ajipliances.  Kor  lamp  chimneys  and  canopies  the  mica  must  be  clear  and  transi^arent, 
must  split  easily,  and  be  very  llexible.  Indian  and  Brazilian  mica  are  used  chielly  for 
such  purposes. 

"Transparency  of  Mica  a  Valuable  Characteristic. 

"Its  ability  to  withstand  shocks  and  strains,  combined  with  its  transparency,  has 
led  to.  wide  use  in  motor  goggles,  spectacles,  diver's  helmets,  smoke  helmets,  compass 
cards,  gage  fronts,  and  in  windows  subject  to  shock,  as  in  the  conning  towers  of  war- 
shiiis. 

"Owing  t<i  the  resonance  of  mica,  circular  sheets  of  high-grade  muscovite  are  used 
extensively  in  phonographs,  as  sound-producing  devices.  Such  sheets  are  used  also 
in  other  sound-detecting  instruments,  such  as  submarine  detectors.  Diapliragm  mica 
must  be  clear  and  transparent,  free  from  all  cracks,  inclusions,  stains,  air  bubl)les,  or 
rulings,  and  must  split  easily  into  perfectly  flat  sheets,  the  latter  feature  being 
essential. 

"Mica  splittings  consist  of  thin  (lakes  split  from  the  smaller  sheets  or  from  waste 
fragments.  They  are  usiiall.v  not  less  than  one  sipiare  inch  in  area,  of  irregular 
shape  and  not  more  than  one-thousandth  of  an  inch  in  thickness.  They  are  used  for 
the  manufacture  of  built-up  mica,  consisting  of  the  thin  jilates  stuck  together  with 
shellac.  Built-up  mica  is  used  chiefly  for  commutator  segments,  and  in  various  forms 
in  dynamos,   motors,  ami  transformers. 

"The  invention  of  built-up  mica  marks  one  of  the  most  important  developments  in 
tlie  industrj-.  Many  hundred  tons  of  splittings  are  used  every  year  in  making  products 
tliat  are  quite  satisfactory  for  many  electrical  purposes,  thus  filling  a  demand  whicli 
it  would  be  impossible  for  the  world  to  supply  with  sheet  mica  at  the  present  rate  of 
production. 

"Mica  trimmings  and  blocks  that  can  not  be  utilized  for  sheet  mica  or  splittings 
are  ground  and  sold  in  pidverized  form.  The  more  impure  and  coarser  types  are  used 
as  a  coating  on  tar  roofing  to  prevent  sticking  when  rolled.  Purer  and"  finer-grained 
products  are  used  in  paints,  ornamental  tiles,  and  concrete.  A  mixture  of  ground 
mica  and  jiowdered  ahmiinum  is  said  to  make  a  rust-preventing  paint  of  good  ciuality. 

"On  account  of  its  heat-resisting  qualities,  ground  mica  is  used  in  railroad  car 
axle  packings,  in  pipe  and  boiler  coverings,  in  fireproof  paints,  and  in  rubber  tires. 
Ground  mica  is  used  in  annealing  steel,  as  an  absorbent  for  nitroglycerin  in  the  manu- 
fac-ture  of  certain  explosives,  as  a  component  in  roofing,  as  a  filler  in  rubber  and  other 
products,  in  calico  printing,  and  .as  tire  powder.  It  is  used  also  in  tinsel  decorations 
and  as  'Santa  Claus  snow'  for  Christmas  tree  and  window  decorations.  The  purest 
and  finest  ground  mica  is  used  for  wall-paper  decoration,  as  a  lubricant  for  wooden 
bearinus.  and  mixed  with  oil  as  a  lubricant  for  metal  bearinsrs. 

"Table  I  indicates  the  approximate  proportion  of  ground  mica  \ised  for  various 
purposes. 

"Table   I — Percentages  of  Ground    Mica   Used   in   Various  Applications. 

Patent   roofing 60 

Wall   paper 21 

Automobile  tires g 

Fancy  paints,  concrete  facing,  Christmas  tree  'snow' x. 3 

Molded    electric    insulation 3 

Annealing,  filling  in  rubber  other  than  tires,  printing,  lithography  and  sizing 

cotton 3 

Lubrication     ~ ZI__  2 

"From  the  preceding  paragraphs  it  appears  that  the  chief  industries  using  sheet 
mica  and  splittings  are  manufacturers  of  electrical  equipment,  stoves,  phonographs, 
lamp  shades,  and  chimneys.  Ground  mica  is  used  by  manufacturers  of  composition 
roofing,  rubber  products,  wall  paper,  and  lubricants. 

"The  chief  centers  of  mica  consumption  are  the  large  industrial  cities  east  of  the 
Mississippi  River,  such  as  Chicago,  New  York,  Schenectady,  Cleveland,  Pittsburgh,  and 
Boston.  The  chief  domestic  marketing  points  are  Asheville  and  Spruce  Fine  N  C  • 
Keene,  N.  H.  :  New  York  City,  Boston,  and  Chicago.  The  chief  foreign  mica  markets 
are  London,  England;  Calcutta.  India;  Rio  Janeiro,  Brazil;  Buenos  Aires,  Argentina 
and  Cape  Town,  South  Africa." 


i2r, 


MINERAfi    IND^T^^TRY   OP    CALIFORNIA. 


MINERAL   PAINT. 

B ihliograpJi If :  '^tute  ]\Iiiieralofrist  Reports  XII-XVIII  (inc.).    Bul- 
letins 38,  91. 

Mineral  paint  materials  were  produced  in  California  in  1922  from 
a  total  of  eight  properties  in  the  following  four  counties :  Nevada, 
Placer,  Stanislaus,  and  Ventura.  The  total  amounted  to  1620  tons, 
valued  at  $13,277,  being  an  increase  over  the  446  tons  and  $4,748  of 
1921.  The  material  shipped  from  Nevada  and  Placer  counties  is  hema- 
tite ;  from  Stanislaus,  vellov.-  ochre ;  and  that  from  Ventura,  red  ochre. 

Besides  the  above-named  counties,  deposits  of  mineral  paint  have 
been  noted,  and  in  the  past  most  of  them  have  yielded  some  com- 
mercially, in  the  following:  Alameda,  Amador,  Calaveras,  Colusa, 
Imperial,  Kern,  Kings,  Lake,  Los  Angeles,  Riverside,  Santa  Cruz, 
Sonoma. 


Mineral    Paint   Production  of  California,  by  Years. 

The  first  recorded  production  of  mineral  paint  materials  in  the  state 
was  in  the  year  1890.  The  output,  showing  annual  amount  and  value, 
since  that  time,  is  given  hercAvith: 


Tear 

Tons 

Value 

Tear 

!        T0D8 

Value 

1890 

40 

22 

2S 

590 

610 

750 

395 

578 

653 

1.704 

529 

325 

589 

2,370 

270 

754 

250 

250 

$480 

880 

750 

26.795 

14,140 

8,425 

5.540 

8.165 

9,698 

20.294 

3,993 

875 

1,533 

3,720 

1.985 

4,025 

1,720 

1,720 

1908 

1909 

1910 

335 
305 
20O 

$2,250 

1891 

2.325 

1892 

2.040 

1893  . 

1911 

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

1919 

1920 

1921 

1922 

Totals 

186  , 
300  1 
303  1 
132 
311 
643 
520 
728 

1.780 
779 
446  ' 

1.620 

1.1&4 

1894 

1.8C0 

1895 

1896 

1897 

1.780 

847 

1.756 

1898 

3.960 

1899 , 

2.700 

1900 ..    

4.738 

1901 

1902 

1903 

1904 

1905 

1906 

1907 

17.055 
8.477 
4,748 

13,277 

18,692 

! 

I                                  1 

$176,675 

MINERAL  WATER. 

Bibliographrj :  State  ^Mineralogist  Reports  VI.  XII-XVIII  (inc.). 
U.  S.  G.  S.,  Water  Supply  Paper  338;  Min.  Res.  1914.  1916. 
'Mineral  Springs  and  Health  Resorts  of  California,'  by  Dr. 
AVinslow  Anderson,  1890.  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agr.,  Bur.  of  Chem., 
Bulletin  91. 

A  widespread  production  of  mineral  water  is  shown  annually  in 
California.  These  figures  refer  to  mineral  water  actually  bottled  for 
sale,  or  for  local  consumption.  Water  from  some  of  the  springs  having 
a  special  medicinal  value  brings  a  price  many  times  higher  than  the 
average  shown,  Avhile  in  some  cases  the  water  is  used  merely  for  drink- 


STATISTICS   OP    ANNUAL   PKODUCTION.  127 

ing  purposes  and  sells  for  a  nominal  figure.  Health  and  pleasure 
resorts  are  located  at  many  of  the  springs.  The  waters  of  some  of  the 
hot  springs  are  not  suitable  for  drinking,  but  are  very  efficacious  for 
bathing. 

From  a  therapeutic  standpoint,  California  is  particularly  rich  in 
mineral  springs.  The  counterparts  of  many  of  the  world-famed  spas 
of  Europe  and  the  eastern  United  States  can  be  found  here.  In  dis- 
cussing the  curtailment  of  foreign  imports  into  the  United  States  dur- 
ing the  European  war  period,  Chambers^  comparing  some  American 
and  European  mineral  waters  says: 

"Those  who  have  found  it  difficult  or  impossible  to  obtain  waters  that  were  previ- 
ously imported  will  doubtless  be  interested  in  the  possibility  of  substituting  domestic 
waters  for  certain  famous  mineral  waters  of  Europe.  •  •  •  To  discover  two  or 
more  natural  waters  each  of  whose  dozen  or  more  constituents  is  exactly  the  same 
in  kind  and  concentration  would  be  difficult  if  not  impossible,  but  an  attempt  is  made 
here  to  show  that  the  waters  compared  are  similar  in  chemical  character,  degree  of 
mineralization,  and  relative  proportion  of  various  constituents.  As  medical  practice 
varies  sometimes  as  much  as  100  per  cent  in  the  dosage  of  many  of  the  inorganic 
substances  present  in  natural  solutions,  it  seems  reasonable  to  assume  that  waters 
differing  not  too  widely  in  composition  might  be  used  for  the  same  purpose  with 
similar  if  not  identical  physiologic  effects. 

"The  American  waters  chosen  for  this  study  have  been  those  for  which  the  analyses 
were  at  hand.  A  more  exhaustive  study  would  no  doubt  reveal  many  others  of  equal 
value  for  comparison. 

"Many  more  comparisons  could  be  made.  Hinsdale=  gives  a  list  that  includes  about 
about  40  European  waters  and  that  indicates  for  each  1  to  7  similar  American  waters. 
As  a  large  part  of  the  cost  of  imported  waters  is  chargeable  to  freight  and  handling, 
it  would  seem  unnecessary  to  pay  high  prices  for  imported  waters  if  equally  satisfac- 
tor.v  and  less  expensive  waters  can  be  obtained  in  this  country. 

"Wlien  American  springs  are  more  fully  investigated  and  exploited,  and  when  better 
accommodations  for  hydrotherapeutic  treatment  are  available,  it  may  be  hoped  that  in 
the  United  States  counterparts  of  nearly  all  the  famous  spring  resorts  in  Europe  will 
l>e  developed.  There  is  also  a  satisfaction  in  the  assurance  that  if  mineral  waters  are 
a  war-time  necessity  in  convalescent  hospitals,  supplies  from  abroad  may  be  com- 
pletely shut  off  without  deprivation  to  patients  in  this  country." 

In  the  analyses  chosen.  Chambers^  compares  two  of  California's 
springs  with  springs  at  Aix-les-Bains,  France,  and  at  Carlsbad,  Austria- 
Hungary,  respectively. 

An  interesting  development  in  recent  years  in  California  is  the 
obtaining  of  'geyser'  wells  at  Calistoga,  in  Napa  County,  by  drilling 
into  the  thermal-water  strata  underlying  that  part  of  the  Napa  Valley. 
There  are  at  present  several  wells  so  erupting.  They  spout  in  true 
geyser  fashion,  and  their  periods  vary  from  10  minutes  to  2  hours,  each 
following  its  own  schedule  rather  closely.  Radioactivity  has  been  noted 
in  at  least  two  localities  in  California.  Some  preliminary  qualitative 
tests  have  been  made  by  the  writer  at  The  Geysers  in  Sonoma  County, 
and  positive  reactions  obtained;  also,  radioactivity  has  been  proved  at 
Arrowhead  Hot  Springs  in  San  Bernardino  County,  by  Prof.  Gilbert 
E.  Bailey  of  the  University  of  Southern  California. 

•Chambers.  A.  A.,  Comparison  of  American  and  European  mineral  waters:  U.  S. 
Geol.  Surv.,  Min.  Res.  of  U.  S.,  1916,  Part  II,  pp.  500-510,   1918. 

'Hinsdale,  Guy.  Some  analogous  European  and  American  mineral  springs :  Am. 
Climatological  As.soc.  Trans.,  vol.  17,  pp.  2  63-265,  1901. 

''Idem,  pp.  506,  507,  508. 


128 


MINERAIv    INDUSTRY    OK    CALIFORNIA. 


Commercial  production  of  mineral  water  by  counties,  in  1922,  was 
as  follows: 


County 


Gallons 


Value 


Butte  — 

Calaveras    

Lake  .- 

Los  Angeles  

Napa    --- 

Riverside    - 

San  Diego 

Santa  Barbara  

Santa  Clara 

Sonoma  

Colusa,   Contra  Costa,   Humboldt,  Marin,   Placer,  San  Bernardino,  San 

Benito,  San  Luis  Obispo,  Siskiyou,  and  Solano* I     3,550,505 

Totals - 4,276,3t6 


2.835 

$2,485 

1,914 

639 

60,420 

29,370 

300,400 

15,450 

80,481 

54,341 

58,116 

ic,»)';2 

71,781 

9,262 

110,552 

62,269 

3,500 

325 

35,843 

9,108 

3,550,505 

298,503 

$486,424 


•Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 


The  production  above  tal)ulated  was  in  part  bottled  with  artificial 
earbonation,  in  part  natural,  and  a  large  part  was  used  in  the  prepa- 
ration of  soft  drinks  with  flavors. 


Mineral  Water   Production   of  California,  by  Years. 

Amount  and  value  of  mineral  water  produced  in  California  sinee  1887 
are  sriven  herewith: 


Year 


Gallons 


Value 


1887 I  618.162  \       $144,368 

1888 I  1,112,202  !  252,990 

1889 '  808,625  '  252,241 

1890 258,722  89,786 

1891 334.553  139,959 

1892 _.  331,875  162,019 

1893 383,179  90,667 

1894 I  402,275  1&4,481 

1895 701,397  291,500 

1896 808,843  337,434 

1897 1,508,192  345,863 

1898 1,429,809  213.817 

1899 1,338.537  406,691 

1900 2,456,115  268,607 

1901 1,555,328  559,057 

1902 1,701,142  612,477 

1903 2,056,340  558.201 

1904 2.430.320  496.946 

1905 2,194,150  538,700 


Year 


Gallons 


1906 I  1,585,690 

1907 2.924,269 

1908 2,789,715 

1909 2,449,834 

1910 2,335,259 

1911 2,637,669 

1912 2,497,794 

1913 .-  2,350,792 

1914 !  2.443.572 

1915 2,274.267 

1916 j  2,273,817 

1917 I  1,942.020 

1918 1,808,791 


1919 
1920 
1921 
1922 


Totals. 


2,233,842 
2,391,791 
3,446,278 
4,276,346 


Value 


$478,186 
544,016 
560,507 
465,488 
522,009 
590,654 
529,384 
599,748 
476,169 
467,738 
410,112 
340,566 
375,650 
340,117 
421,643 
367.476 
486,424 


65,091,512      $13,921,691 


PHOSPHATES. 
Biblwgraphy:  Bulletins  67,  91. 

No  commercial  production  of  phosphates  has  been  recorded  from 
California,  though  occasional  pookets  of  the  lithia  ]ihosphate,  amblyg- 
onite,  Li  (AlF)  PO4,  have  been  found  associated  witli  the  gem  tourma- 
line deposits  in  San  Diego  County.  Such  production  has  been  classified 
under  lithia. 


STATISTICS   OP    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION. 


129 


A  deposit  of  phosphate  rock  is  reported  to  have  been  located  near 
Big  Pine  in  Inyo  County,  bnt  no  commercial  development  has  taken 
place. 

PUMICE   and   VOLCANIC   ASH. 

Bihlioqraphy :  State  :\Iineralogist  Reports  XII,  XIV,  XV,  XVII, 
XVill.     Bulletin  38  (see  'Tufa'). 

Tlio  prndnction  of  pumice  and  volcanic  ash  for  the  year  1922 
amounli'd  to  ()l;5  tons  valued  at  $4,248,  and  came  from  a  single  prop- 
erty, each,  in  Imperial.  Inyo,  and  San  Francisco  counties.  This  is  an 
increase  in  tonnage  ])ut  a  decrease  in  total  value  from  the  1921  yield. 

The  pumice  de^posits  in  Imperial  and  Siskiyou  counties  are  of  the 
vesicular,  block  variety,  and  are  practically  the  only  localities  in  the 
United  States  from  which  commercial  production  of  this  grade  has 
been  made.  Tliere  are  other  known  deposits  of  this  variety  in  Inyo, 
IMadera,  and  IMono  counties.  This  form  is  used  largely  for  abrasive 
purposes;  and  is  also  being  utilized  in  fire-brick,  and  as  an  insulating 
filler  in  the  walls  of  refrigerators  and  cold-storage  plants.  It  has  also 
been  tried  .in  concrete  construction.  Foreign  importations  of  block 
pumice  come  mainly  from  the  Lipari  Islands,  Italy.  The  volcanic  ash, 
or  tulf,  variety  is  employed  in  making  scouring  soaps  and  ])olisliing 
powders.  The  above-noted  production  from  Inyo  and  San  Francisco 
counties  was  of  ash. 

Commercial  production  of  ])umice  in  California  was  first  reported  to 
the  State  IMining  Bureau  in  1909,  then  not  again  until  1912,  since  which 
>ear  there  has  been  a  small  annual  output,  na  indicated  by  the  following 
table: 


Year 

Tons 

Value 

1917 

1918 

1919    

525 

2,114 

2,388 

1,537 

406 

613 

$5,295 
28.669 
43.657 

1920 

25,890 

1921 

6.310 

1922 

4,248 

Totals — 

12,999 

$147,061 

PYRITES. 
Bibliography:  Report    XVIII.     Bulletins    38,    91.     Min.    &    Sci. 
Press,  Vol.  114,  pp.  825,  840. 

Pyrites  are  mined  for  use  in  the  manufacture  of  sulphuric  acid, 
which  in  turn  is  used  in  large  quantities  in  the  preparation  of  explo- 
sives and  of  fertilizers.  One  property,  each,  in  Alameda,  Shasta,  and 
Mariposa  counties  reported  a  total  production  in  1922  of  151,381  tons, 
valued  at  $570,425,  which  is  an  increase  over  1921,  both  in  tonnage  and 
value.     The  material  shipped  in  1922  carried  42%  to  46%  S. 

This  does  not  include  the  large  quantities  of  pyrite,  chalcopyrite  and 
other  sulphides  which  are  otherwise  treated  for  their  valualile  metal 
contents.     Some  sulphuric  acid  is  annually  made  as  a  by-product  in 

9— 2S547 


130 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


the  course  of  roasting  certain  tonnages  of  Motlier  Lode  auriferous  con- 
centrates for  their  precious-metal  values.  California  has  available  sup- 
plies of  sulphide  ores  suitable  for  the  manufacture  of  sulphuric  acid 
far  in  excess  of  the  local  requirements. 

Pyrites  Production   in   California,  by  Years. 

The  total  recorded  pyrites  production  in  California  to  date  is  as 
follows : 


Year 


1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1910 


Tons 


Value 


6.000 

$30,000 

5,400 

28,620 

3,642 

21,133 

4,578 

18.429 

17,525 

60,306 

24.311 

94.000 

15,043 

62,992 

15.503 

63,958 

46,689 

145.895 

82,270 

251,774 

107.081 

610.335 

457.867 

1.389.802 

42,621 

179,862 

year  Tons  Value 

1911' 54,225  $182,954 

1912 69,872  203,470 

1913 79.000  218.537 

1914 79,267  230,058 

1915 92.462  293,148 

1916 120.525  372,969 

1917 111,325  :       323.704 

1918 128.32i^  425.012 

1919 147.024  ,       540,300 

1920 146.001  530.581 

1921  110,025  473,735 

1922 I  151,381  I       570,425 

Totals 2,117,966  '  $7,322,049 


SHALE  OIL. 

Bihliograpluj :  State  Mineralogist  Report  XIX.    U.  S.  Geol.  Surv., 
Bulletins  322,  729.    U.  S.  Bur.  of  Mines,  Bull.  210. 

The  commercial  production  of  shale  oil  was  begun  in  California  in 
1922  by  a  plant  near  Casmalia,  in  Santa  Barbara  County.  Their 
product  was  sold  for  utilization  as  a  flotation  oil  in  metallurgical  work. 
The  property  and  plant  are  described  by  Gore^  in  a  recent  issue  of 
'Mining  in  California.'  As  there  was  only  a  single  operator  the  amount 
and  value  of  the  output  are  concealed  under  the  'unapportioned'  item. 


SILICA    (Sand  and   Quartz). 

Bihtiography:  State  ^Mineralogist  Reports  IX.  XIV,  XV.  XVII, 
XVIII.     Bulletins  38,  67,  91. 

We  combine  these  materials  because  of  the  overlapping  roles  of  vein 
quartz  which  is  mined  for  use  in  glass  making  and  as  an  abrasive,  and 
that  of  silica  sand  which,  although  mainly  utilized  in  glass  manu- 
facture, also  serves  as  an  abrasive.  Both  varieties  are  also  utilized  to 
some  extent  in  fire-brick  manufacture. 

A  portion  of  the  tonnage  of  vein  quartz  in  California  in  1916  and 
1917  was  employed  in  the  preparation  of  ferro-silicon  by  the  electric 
furnace.     At  present,  some  is  utilized  as  a  foundry  flux,  and  for  steel- 

^Gore.  F.  D..  Oil  shale  in  Santa  Barbara  County,  California :  State  Min.  Bur.,  Report 
XIX,  Sept.  1923. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL    PRODUCTIOX. 


131 


casting  moulds.  A  portion  of  the  silica  sold  (both  sand  and  quartz) 
is  also  used  in  glazes  for  porcelain,  pottery  and  tile,  and  in  the  body 
of  the  ware  to  diminish  shrinkage ;  and  some  of  the  sand  for  the 
preparation  of  sodium  silicate  ('water  glass').  ]\[anufacturors  of  paint 
use  finely  ground  silica,  wiiieli  forms  as  much  as  one-third  of  the  total 
pigment  in  some  paints.  For  certain  purposes  finely  ground  crystalline 
material  is  superior  in  paints  to  other  materials  because  of  the  angu- 
larity of  the  grains,  which  makes  them  adhere  more  firmly  to  the  article 
painted  and  aftei'  wear  afford  a  good  surface  for  repainting.  The 
same  angularity  makes  artificially  comminuted  crystalline  quartz  supe- 
i-ior  to  natural  sand  for  use  in  wood  fillers.  It  is  also  preferable  for 
soaps  and  polishing  powders. 

We  do  not  include  under  this  heading  such  forms  of  silica  as:  quartz- 
ite,  sandstone.  Hint,  tripoli.  diatomaceous  earth,  nor  the  gem  forms  of 
'rock  crystal.'  amethyst,  and  opal.  Each  of  these  has  various  industrial 
uses,  which  are  treated  under  theii"  own  designations. 

The  production  of  silica  in  California  in  1922  amounted  to  9,874  tons, 
valued  at  $31,016,  from  eleven  properties  in  six  counties,  distributed 
as  follows : 


County 

Tons 

Value 

Amador 

£65 
2,000 
1,877 
5,132 

$5  030 

Placer  

5,500 

Riverside 

11,391 

Kern.  Monterev.  San  Dieeo*    - 

9,005 

Totals 

9,874 

$31,016 

•Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  eacb. 


Of  the  above  total.  5,811  tons  was  of  sand,  and  4,063  tons  of  vein 
and  boulder  ({uartz.  For  making  the  higher  grades  of  glass,  most  of 
the  sand  is  imported  from  Belgium.  There  are  various  deposits  of 
quartz  in  California  which  could  be  utilized  for  glass  making,  but  to 
date  they  have  not  been  so  u.sed  owing  to  the  cost  of  grinding  and  the 
difficulty  of  preventing  contamination  by  iron  while  grinding. 

Silica  sand  ha.s  been  produced  in  the  following  counties  of  the  state : 
Alameda,  Amador,  El  Dorado,  Los  Angeles,  oMonterey,  Orange,  Placer, 
Riverside,  San  Joafiuin,  and  Tulare.  The  chief  producing  centers  have 
been  Amador,  Monterey,  and  Los  Angeles  counties.  The  industry  is  of 
limited  importance,  so  far,  becau.se  of  the  fact  that  much  of  the  avail- 
able material  is  not  of  a  grade  which  will  produce  first-class  colorless 
glass ;  for  such,  it  must  be  essentially  iron-free.  Even  a  fractional  per 
cent  of  iron  imparts  a  green  color  to  the  glass. 

Belgium  sand  is  also  displacing  local  material  in  the  manufacture  of 
sodium  silicate  ('water  glass'),  causing  the  closing  down  of  operations 
in  January  of  the  present  year,  of  the  sand  plant  of  the  Philadelphia 
Quartz  Company  in  Amador  County. 


132 


MINERAL  Industry  of  California 


Total   Silica   Production   of  California. 


Total   silica   production   in   California   since   the   inception   of  the 
industry,  in  1899,  is  shown  below,  being  mainly  sand : 


Year 


Tons 


1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1910 
1911' 


3,000 
2.200 
5,000 
4,500 
7.725 

10,004 
9,257 
9,750 

11,065 
9,255 

12,259 

19.224 
8,620 


Value 


$3,500 

2.200 
16.250 
12,225 

7.525 
12.276 

8,121 
1.3,375 

8178 
22,045 
25,517 
18,265 

8,672 


Year 


1912 
1913 
1914 
1915 
1916 
1917 
1918 
1919 
1920 
1921 
1922 


Tons 


Value 


13,075 

$15,404 

18,618 

21,899 

28,538 

22,688 

28,904 

34,322 

20,880 

48.908 

19,376 

41,166 

23,257 

88,930 

18,659 

101,600 

25,324 

96,793 

10,569 

49,179 

9,874 

31,016 

Totals 328,933       $710,054 


SILLIMANITE. 

Bibliography:  Bulletins  67,  91.     Dana's  Mineralogy. 


Sillimanite  is  an  aluminum  silicate  (AloSiO-,).  having  the  same  com- 
position and  formula  as  andalusite,  but  having  different  physical  char- 
acteristics. Theoretically,  they  both  contain  63.2%  AUOy  and 
36.8%  SiOj.  Both  are  found  in  gneiss,  mica  schist,  and  other  related 
crystalline  metamorphic  rocks. 

A  massive  deposit  of  sillimanite  found  in  Dry  Creek  Canyon  in 
the  Inyo  Llountains,  IMono  County,  is  being  mined,  and  the  material 
shipped  East,  Avhere  it  is  utilized  in  the  manufacture  of  porcelain  for 
automobile  spark  plugs,  and  for  high-tension  electrical  insvilators. 
This  is  apparently  the  only  deposit  of  sillimanite  thus  far  found  in 
the  United  States  (at  least)  in  sufficient  quantity  to  be  of  commercial 
consequence.  As  there  was  only  the  one  operator,  the  tonnage  and 
value  of  the  1922  production  is  concealed  under  the  'unapportioned' 
item. 

SOAPSTONE  and  TALC. 

Bihliographi/:  State  :\rineralogist  Reports  XII,  XIV,  XV,  XVII, 
XVIII.  Bulletins  38,  67,  91.  U.  S.  Bur.  of  Mines,  Bulletin  213. 
Rep.  of  Investigations,  Serial  No.  2253,  May,  1921. 

The  total  output  of  tale  and  soapstone  in  California  in  1922  amounted 
to  13,378  tons  valued  at  $197,186,  from  two  producers,  each,  in  El 
Dorado  and  Inyo  counties,  and  one  in  San  Bernardino.  This  is  an 
increase  both  in  tonnage  and  value  over  the  1922  figures.  The  bulk  of 
the  product  was  high-grade  talc  from  Inyo  and  San  Bernardino  coun- 
ties. This  was  due,  in  part  to  improvement  in  the  eastern  demand  for 
California  talc  on  account  of  its  high  quality,  in  part  to  a  10%  reduc- 
tion in  freight  rates  in  July,  1922,  and  in  i^art  to  the  increases  in  tariff 
duties  placed  on  foreign  importations  of  talc  l)y  the  Tariff  Act  of  1922 
which  became  effective  in  September.  It  is  reported  that  California 
talc  is  steadily  replacing  imported  talc  in  the  toilet  trade  on  the  basis 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  133 

of  quality.     The  largest  production  of  tale  in  the  United  States  comes 
from  Vermont  and  New  York,  and  of  massive  soapstone  from  Virginia. 

Composition   and   Varieties. 

Talc  is  a  hydrous  magnesium  silicate  with  tiie  chemical  formula 
II,^rg.,(SiO.,)4.'  It  is  also  called  soapstone,  and  steatite.  The  term 
'talc'  properly  inchidcs  all  forms  of  the  i)ure  miiieral.  whereas  'steatite' 
denotes  particularly  the  massive.  C()m|)act  variety,  and  'soapstone'  the 
impure,  massive  forms  containing  as  low  as  50%  of  talc.  When  pure, 
talc  is  soft,  having  a  hardness  of  1,  but  impurities  increase  the  hardness 
up  to  3  or  4.  The  color  varies  from  i)ure  white  and  silvery  white  through 
gray,  green,  apple  green,  to  dark  green,  also  yellow,  brown,  and  reddish 
when  impure.  It  is  commonly  compact  or  massive,  or  in  fine  granular 
aggregates,  and  often  in  foliated  plates  or  in  fibrous  aggregates. 

Uses. 

Althougli  the  uses  of  talc  and  soapstone  are  many  and  varied,  some 
of  tiiem  are  not  in  general  well  known  nor  fully  developed;  and 
although  few  of  their  uses  can  justly  l)e  considered  essential  in  the 
sense  that  no  substitutes  can  be  used,  there  are  several  which  are  of 
great  impoi'tance.  The  widest  use  of  talc  is  in  the  powdered  form, 
and  the  value  depends  upon  color  (whiteness),  uniformity,  fineness  of 
grain,  freedom  from  grit,  'slip,'  and  sometimes  freedom  from  lime. 
The  white  varieties,  free  from  grit  and  iron,  low  in  lime,  ground  to 
200-mesh  and  finer,  are  largely  used  as  a  filler  for  paper,  rul)l)er  and 
l)aint,  and  the  very  highest  grade  as  toilet  powder.  Ground  talc  is  also 
used  in  dressing  and  coating  cloth,  in  making  soap,  rope,  twine,  pipe- 
covering  compounds,  heavy  lubricants,  and  polishes.  Ground  talc  and 
soapstone  are  used  for  foundiy  facings,  cither  alone  or  mixed  witli 
graphite;  and  a  coarser  grade  is  used  in  the  manufacture  of  asphalt- 
coated  roofing  felts  and  papers,  both  as  a  filler  and  as  a  surfacing. 
]\Iassive,  close-grained  talc,  free  from  iron  and  grit,  is  cut  into  blanks 
and  baked,  forming  the  material  used  for  gas  tips  and  electrical  insula- 
tion, connnei-cially  known  as  'lava.'  Its  hardness,  its  resistance  to  heat, 
acids,  and  alkalies,  and  its  great  dielectric  strength  make  it  very  useful 
for  electric  insulation,  and  no  satisfactory  substitute  for  it  has  been 
found. 

Massive  varieties  of  talc,  pyrophyllite.  and  high  grades  of  soapstone 
are  cut  into  slate  pencils,  and  steel- workers'  crayons.  'French  chalk' 
or  'tailor's  chalk'  is  a  soft,  massive  talc.  In  China,  Japan,  and  India, 
massive  talc  (steatite)  is  carved  into  grotesque  images  and  other  forms, 
and  is  often  sold  as  imitation  jade.  Soapstone  is  usually  cut  into  slabs 
of  1  to  2  inches  in  thickness  and  sold  as  griddles,  footwarmers,  and 
fireless-cooker  stones,  or  fabricated  into  laundry  sinks  and  tubs,  labora- 
tory-table tops,  hoods,  tanks,  and  sinks,  electric  switchboards,  and  for 
other  uses  in  which  the  properties  of  resistance  to  heat,  acids,  and  alka- 
lies, and  electricity  are  essential. 

The  following  detailed  account  of  the  various  uses  of  talc  and  soap- 
stone  is  given  by  Ladoo^ : 

"Ladoo,  R.  B..  Talc  and  soapstone,  their  mining,  milling,  products,  and  uses :  U.  S. 
Bur.  of  Mines,  Bulletin  213,  pp.  66-70,  1923. 


134  MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

"Uses  of  Powdered  Talc  and  Soapstone. 

"1.  Paper  manufacture: 

a.   Filling  or  loading  of  all  grades  of  paper. 

h.  Ingredient  of  coating  mixture  on  glazed  or  finished  papers. 

r    In  tissue-paper  manufacture  from  sulphite  stock. 

d.  In  the  manufacture  of  blotting  and  absorbing  papers. 

e.  For  the  bleaching  of  cellulose. 

f.  For  removal  of  resin  from  cellulose. 

Quality:    200-mesh   or  finer.      Colloidal   property   demanded.      Presence  of  lime 

sometimes  objectionable. 
Color :  Colorless  ;  free  from  ferric  salts,  for  white  paper.     Color  not  important 

for  wrapping  paper." 
"2.  Roofing-paper  manufacture: 
a.   Filling  or  loading. 

h.  Coating,  to  prevent  sticking  together. 

c.   Surfacing.  .  ,/>,„. 

Quality  :  For  filling  and  coating,  200-mesh.     For  surfacing.  40  to  80  mesh. 
Color :  Negligible. 
"3.  Textile  manufacture  : 
a.   Dressing  cloth. 
h.  Coating,  sizing,  and  bleaching  cotton  cloth. 

c.  Dyeing. 

d.  Dry  polishing  or  sizing  of  pile  fabrics. 
Quality:    200-mesh. 

Color  :  Dependent  on  u.se. 
"4.   Rubber  manufacture  : 

a.  Filling. 

b.  Dusting. 

c.  Packing  material  for  rubber. 

d.  Protective  coating  for  crude  rubber. 

e.  On  molding  tables  in  making  tires. 

f.  In  manufacture  of  rubber  tubing  for  bedding  tubing  during  vulcanization. 
Quality:    200-mesh. 

Color  :'  Negligible. 
"5.  Paint  manufacture : 

o.  Pigments  ;  absorption  of  complex  coloring  matters. 
h.  Filler  or  extender,  particularly  in  mixed  paints. 

c.  Cold-water  paints. 

d.  Enamel  paints. 

e.  Waterproof  paints  for  protection  of  metal,  stone,  and  wood. 
/.   FlexilDle  roofing  paints  and  cements. 

g.  Fireproof  or  fire-resistant  paints. 
h.   Base  for  disinfectant  paints. 

Quality  :  200-mesh  or  finer.     Colloidal  property  demanded  in  most  paints. 

Color  :  Dependent  on  use. 
"6.   Soap  manufacture : 

rt.   Filler. 

h.  Constituent  of  soap  compound. 

Quality:   200-mesh  only,  colloidal  property  demanded  in  b. 

Color :  Dependent  on  use. 
"7.   Foundry-facing  manufacture : 

a.  Replacing  graphite. 

h.  Mixed  with  graphite. 

Quality:   200-mesh. 

Color:  Dependent  on  use. 
"8.   Toilet  preparations : 

a.   Face  powders. 

h.  Toilet  powders. 

c.  Foot  powders. 

d.  CreaiTis,  pastes,  and  lotions. 

Quality:    200-mesli    or    finer;    freedom    from    grit,    iron,    and    lime;    good    slip. 
Colloidal  property  advantageous  when  used  with  litiuids. 

('olor  :   White  or  flesh  color. 
"9.  Wire  insulating  compounds: 

Quality;    200-mesh. 

Color  :   Dependent  on  use. 
"10.   Lubricants,  liquid  or  grease: 

«.   Talc  alone. 

h.   Incorporated  with  heavy  oils.   40  to  60  per  cent  talc. 

c.  With  water,  talc  in  colloidal  state. 

Quality:   200-mesh. 

Color :   Negligible. 
"11.   Linoleum  and  oilcloth  rwanufacture : 

o.  Filling. 

h.   Dusting. 

Quality:   200-mesh. 

Color:   Dependent  on  use. 
"12   Pipe-covering  compounds. 
"13.  Pottery  and  norcelain  : 

a.  Body  material  for  china,  porcelain,  and  porcelain  crucibles. 

h.  Glaze. 
"14.   Electrical  insulation: 

rt.   Artificial  or  synthetic  lava — talc  with  binder. 

h.  Substitute  for  electrical   porcelain — talc   with   clay,   with   or  without   liquid 
binder. 

Quality:   200-mesh. 

Color :   Dependent  on  use. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  135 

"15    Rope  and  twine  manufacture: 

a.  Filliner. 

b.  Finishine. 
Quality  :   200-mpsh. 
Color :   Dependent  on  use. 

"IG.   Leather  manufacture: 

a.  DressinK  skins  and  leathers. 

b.  Drying  "oily  leathers. 

c.  Substitute  for  wheat  flour  in  mal<ing  glace  Kid 
"17.   Cork  manufacture : 

a.   Dusting  molds. 
Quality  :    200-mfsh. 
Color  :   Negligible. 
"IS.   Oil  manufacture  : 

a.   Filtering  medium. 
Quality  :   200-mesh. 
Color :   Negligible. 

"19.   Glass   industry:  .   ,,        i    *„  „i„oo 

a.  Polishing  powder  for  glass,  especially  plate  glass. 

b.  Dimming  and  clouding  glass. 

c.  Dusting  glass,  bottle  molds. 
Quality:  200-mesh. 

Color :  Negligible. 
"20    Portland  cement  and  concrete: 

a.  Ingredient  of  special  cements. 

b.  Part  of  concrete  aggregate. 

c.  Surfacing  material. 
"21.  Wall  plaster: 

a.  Ingredient. 

b.  Finishing. 

"22.  Asbestos  industry:  ,,     ,  ■,     ,   ^ 

Ingredient  of  asbestos  shingles,  blocks,  and  slabs. 
"23.  Manufacture  of  crayons,  plaques,  and  blocks. 

"•>4    Preservative  coating  on  stonework.  .         ,      ,  i_     „„j 

"25.  CleSg   and    poli-sliing    rice,    peas,    coffee,    beans,    maize,    barley,    peanuts,    and 
similar  food  stuffs: 

Quality :   20n-niesh.  ,   ^  ,        .         ^     ^^ 

Color-   Negligible;  colored  talcs  are  used  for  colored  products. 
"2C.  Bleaching  barley  grain  of  inferior  color.     Used  with  sulphur-dioxide  gas: 

Quality  :   200-mesh. 

Color:   Negligible. 
"27.  DustinsT  in  rubber-stamp  manufacture: 

Quality  :   200-mesh. 

Color :  Negligible. 
"28.  Composition  lloor  manufactures,  *   4..      „ 

"29.   Insulating  material  for  switchboards  and  floors  of  generating  stations. 
"30.   Imitation  stone: 

a.  Marble  and  jointless  flooring. 

7).   Sanitary  appliances. 
"31.   Boot  and  shoe  powder: 

Quality:   200-mesh. 
"32.  Glove  powder: 

Quality:   200-mesh. 

Color:  White. 
"33.   Dermatology:  .,   ,       ,    ^.  ,  ^  ■,     -,„ 

a.  Absorbing  colors,  colloidal  solutions,  fats,  and  oils. 

b.  Absorbing  odors. 

"34.  Absorbing  colors  of  animal,  plant,  and  artificial  origin. 

■      Vm'"dusting  wounds  and  sores,   and   for  treating  skin  diseases  of  cattle   and 
other  animals. 
"o6.   Purifying,  decolorizing,  and  degreasing  of  waste  waters: 

Quality:  200-mesh.     Colloidal  properties  demanded. 

Color:   Negligible.  .  .     „     ,  *  t  i 

"37.  Manufacture  of  water  filters,  similar  to  Berkfeld. 
"38.   Con.serving  fruits,  vegetables,  and  eggs. 
"39.   Sugar  refining. 

"40.  Contact  material  for  catalytic  reactions. 
"41.  Absorbent  for  nitroglycerin. 
"42.  Packing  material  for  metallic  sodium  and  potassium: 

Used  wetted  with  oil. 
"4  3.   Fireproofing  ^-ood  : 

Used  with  sodium  silicate  (water  glass).  _ 

"44.  Acid-proof  and  fireproof  packing  and  cement,  for  pipe,  and  such  articles. 
"45.  Automobile  polish. 
"46.   Filler  in  manufacture  of  fertilizers. 
"4  7.   Agriculture: 

a.  Filler  or  extender  for  insecticides.  . 

b.  Ingredient   of   remedies  for  plant  diseases,    such   as    Fostit    or  mixture   or 

copper  sulphate  with  ground  talc  or  soapstone. 
"4  8.   Shoe  polish  and  cleaner: 

a.  Cleaner  for  white  canvas  and  buckskin  shoes. 

b.  Ingredient  of  polish   for  leather  shoes. 
"49.  Yarn  and  thread  manufacture: 

a.  Dressing. 
h.  Polish. 


136  MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OK    CALIFORNIA. 

"50.  Chemical-pharmaceutical  industry: 

a.   Powder. 

ft.  Tablets. 
"51.   Colored  crayons: 

a.  Crayons  of  chrome  colors,  and  pastel  colors. 
"52.   Stove  polishes. 
"53.   Imitation  amber: 

For  clouding  effects. 
"54.  Cleaning  and  glossing  of  hair  and  bristles. 
"55.   Floor  wax. 
"56.  Terrazzo  or  mosaic  flooring: 

In  place  of  oil  in  laying  terrazzo. 
"57.  Candv  manufacture : 

With  starch,  or  other  medium  as  dusting  agent  to  prevent  sticking  in  molds,  on 
molding  boards,  etc. 
"58.  Window  shade  manufacture  ;  to  render  cloth  opaque. 
"59.   Chewing-gum  manufacture  ;  as  dusting  agent  to  prevent  sticking. 
"60.  In  manufacture  of  putty,  as  filler. 

"Uses  of   Massive  Talc   and  Soapstone. 

"1.  Lava  blanks  for  electrical  insulation,  gas  burner  tips,  and  spark  plugs: 

Quality:  Massive,  fine-grained  talc,  free  from  iron  and  grit,  no  cracks  or 
cleavage  planes.  Must  be  soft  and  easily  machineable  but  compact  and 
strone.     Must  be  tested  under  heat. 

Color :  Negligible  in  raw  state,  but  white  color  preferable  after  burning. 
"2.   Crayons  and  pencils: 

Quality :  Compact,  massive  talc,  medium  hard,  strong  when  sawed  into  thin, 
narrow  strips. 

Color :  Negligible. 
"3.  Tailors  chalk  or  French  chalk. 

Quality:   Compact  and  strong,  fine  grained,  but  medium  soft. 

Color :'  White  or  light  color. 
"4.  Glass  making: 

Molds  for  bottles,  watch  glasses,  etc. 
"5.  Metallurgical  industries : 

Molds  for  casting  of  iron,  brass,  copper,  etc. 
"6.  Refractories : 

Fire  brick  and  blocks. 
"7.  Polishing  agent : 

«.  Wooden  handles,  etc.  Small  blocks  of  talc  tumbled  in  cylinder  with  wooden 
handles  to  fill  grain  of  wood  and  give  rough  polish. 

ft.  Polishing  and  lubricating  wire  nails  used  in  automatic  box-nailing  machines. 
Blocks  of  talc  tumbled  with  nails. 
"S.   Carvings  : 

Chinese  and  other  Oriental  carvings. 
"9.  Cooking  utensils  : 

Used  by  uncivilized  people  in  various  parts  of  the  world. 
"10.   Soapstone  slabs: 

a.  Electrical  switchboards  and  base  plates. 

ft.  Acid-proof  laboratory  tables,  sinks,  hoods,  and  tanks. 

c.  Laundry  tubs  and  sinks. 

d.  Fireless-cooker  stones. 
c.  Foot  warmers. 

/.  Griddles." 

Foreign  and   Domestic  Talcs. 

Foreign  importations  of  high-grade  ^hite  tale  suitable  for  the  nianu- 
faetiire  of  toilet  powder  have  come  mainly  from  Canada,  Ital.y  and 
France.  A  small,  irregular  production  of  white  talc  was  obtained  from 
certain  eastern  states,  but  the  material  tiuetuated  in  quality  and  quan- 
tity to  such  an  extent  that  it  was  not  largely  used  by  manufacturers  of 
the  better-grade  toilet  powders.  Graduall.y  a  wall  of  pre.judice  against 
all  domestic  talcs  grew  up  in  the  trade,  and  this  has  been  fostered  by 
people  interested  in  the  sale  of  the  imported  article. 

Deposits  of  high-grade  talc  in  California  have  been  known  for  several 
vears,  but  little  interest  was  shown  in  them  until  1911-1912.  The  lack 
of  importations  during  1917-1919,  gave  California  an  opportunity  to 
demonstrate  the  qualit}"  of  her  goods.    According  to  Ladoo- : 

"In  the  essential  qualities  of  pure  white  color,  freedom  from  grit,  and  fine-grain 
size  it  is  a  well-established  fact  that  the  best  California  talcs  equal  or  surpass  the  best 
imported  talcs.  In  the  debatable  qualities  of  slip  and  freedom  from  lime  some  of  the 
best  California  talcs  equal  some  of  the  best  imported  talcs  and  in  other  cases  excel 

=^Ladoo,  R.  B.,  High-grade  talc  and  the  California  talc  industry :  U.  S,  Bur.  of  M., 
Reports  of  Investigations,  Serial  No.  2253,  May,  1921. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION. 


137 


other  iiniiL>rted  talcs.  Somo  of  the  very  largest  consumers  of  toilet-grade  talc  have 
expressed  complete  satisfaction  with  the  high-grade  California  talcs  and  have  used 
them  regularlv  in  preference  to  Italian  talc. 

"Therefore."  it  can  not  be  truthfully  said  that  the  United  States  produces  no  talcs 
equal  in  quality  to  imported  talcs.  Unfortunately  many  domestic  consumers  have  been 
so  thoroughly  imbued  with  the  alleged  superiority  of  imported  talcs  that  domestic  talcs 
have  not  been  given  a  fair  chance.  It  is  even  reported  that  unscrupulous  dealers  have 
relabeled  domestic  talc  and  sold  it  as  Italian  talc,  with  prefect  satisfaction  to  the  con- 
sumers. Such  dislionest  trade  practices  are  probably  not  common,  but  they  serve  to 
refute  the  erroneous  statements  regarding  the  quality  of  domestic  talc." 

Foreign  producers  liave  the  benefit  of  cheap  hibor,  and  a  low  tariff 
import  duty.  In  addition  to  these  disadvantages,  the  California  oper- 
atoi's  are  up  against  high  transettntinental  freight  rates.  In  1921 
imports  amounted  to  18,264  short  tons  of  ground  talc,  valued  at  $371,329. 

It  is  stated  that  in  Italy  the  mines  are  all  small  tunnel  workings, 
operated  in  the  main  hy  i)eopl(>  of  limited  capital.  Few  of  the  com- 
})anies  have  their  own  mills,  the  mills  being  separate  enterprises,  located 
at  a  central  point,  to  which  all  the  lump  talc  is  hauled  by  teams. 
Practically  all  of  these  mines  are  in  the  northwestern  corner  of  Italy, 
in  the  district  of  Pinerolo  (Val  Chisone),  near  Turin  (Torino),  in  the 
province  of  Piedmont. 

Talc   Production   of  California,  by   Years. 

Production  has  been  intermittent  in  the  state  since  1893,  as  shown  in 
the  following  table : 


Year 


Tons 


Value 


Year 


Tons 

Value 

33 

$280 

740 

7.260 

1,750 

7,350 

1,350 

6,150 

1.000 

4.500 

1,663 

14,750 

1,703 

9,831 

5,267 

45,279 

11,760 

85,534 

8,764 

115,091 

11,327 

221,362 

8,752 

130,078 

13.378 

197,186 

1893  . 

1894  . 

1895  . 

1896  . 

1897  . 

1898  . 

1899  , 

1900  , 

1901  . 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 
1906 
1907 
1908 


400  i  $17,750 


25 


10 

14 

219 

228 
300 


375 


119 

288 

10,124 

2,315 

3,000 


48 


1909 
1910 
1911 
1912 
1913 
1914 
1915 
1916 
1917 
1918 
1919 
1920 
1921 
1922 


Totals. 


68,686  ,     $878,670 


STRONTIUM. 

BihUographij:  Bulletins  67,  91.    U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  540;  660-1. 

There  has  been  no  production  of  strontium  minerals  in  California 
since  1918,  though  in  that  year  both  celestite  (SrS04),  and  the  car- 
bonate, strontianite  (SrCOg)  were  shipped.  The  first  recorded  com- 
mercial output  of  strontium  minerals  in  California  was  in  1916.  The 
occurrence  of  the  carbonate  is  particuLvrly  interesting  and  valuable,  as 
it  appears  to  be  the  first  considerable  deposit  of  commercial  importance 
so  far  opened  up  in  the  United  States.  Shipments  reported  as  averag- 
ing 80%  SrCO^  have  been  made.  The  deposit  is  associated  with  deposits 
of  barite,  near  Barstow,  San  Bernardino  County.  The  carbonate  has 
also  been  found  in  massive  form  near  Shoshone,  Inyo  County.    In  addi- 


138  MINERAL  INDUSTRY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

tion  to  Imperial  County,  celestite  is  found  near  Calico  and  Ludlow, 
and  in  the  Avawatz  Mountains  in  San  Bernardino  Countj^  but  as  yet 
undeveloped. 

Production  of  strontium  minerals  in  California,  by  years,  has  been  as 
follows : 


Tear 

Tons 

Value 

1916 

57 
3.050 
2,900 

$2,850 

1917   

37,000 

1918   -    -      -    -         

33.000 

1919                      .    — 

Totals 

6,007 

$72,850 

The  principal  use  for  strontium  in  the  United  States  is  in  the  form 
of  the  nitrate  in  the  manufacture  of  red  flares,  or  Costen  and  Bengal 
lights  and  fireworks.  Previous  to  1914,  the  nitrate  was  imported  from 
Germany.  England,  and  Sicily.  In  Germany  and  Russia,  strontium  in 
the  form  of  the  hvdroxide  is  used  in  the  manufacture  of  beet  sugar.  It 
is  stated  that  strontia  is  more  efficient  and  satisfactory  in  that  process 
than  lime,  as  it  gives  an  additional  recovery  of  6%  to  8%. 

Of  the  two  minerals,  strontianite  (carbonate)  and  celestite  (sul- 
phate), the  carbonate  is  the  more  desirable  as  it  is  easier  to  convert  to 
other  salts;  but  it  is  scarcer.  Celestite  is  found  with  limestone  and 
sandstone  and  is  sometimes  associated  with  gypsum.  Strontianite  is 
also  found  with  limestone,  but  associated  with  barite  and  calcite. 

SULPHUR. 

Bihliogrophij:  State  :\Iineralogist  Reports  IV,  XIII,  XIV.    Bulle- 
tins 38,  67,  91. 

There  has  not  been,  for  man.y  years,  any  commercial  output  of  native 
sulphur  in  California,  although  this  mineral  has  been  found  to  some 
extent  in  Colusa,  Imperial,  Inyo,  Kern,  Lake,  Mariposa,  San  Bernar- 
dino, Shasta,  Sonoma,  Tehama,  and  Ventura  counties. 

Sulphur  was  produced  at  the  famous  Sulphur  Bank  mine  in  Lake 
Count.v,  during  the  years  1865-1868  (inc.),  totaling  941  tons,  valued  at 
$53,500;  following  which  the  property  became  more  valuable  for  its 
quicksilver.  The  Elgin  mine,  near  AVilbur  Si)rings,  Colusa  County,  is 
a  similar  occurrence.  There  are  prospects  for  some  production  for 
1923,  as  two  plants  have  ])egun  operations  in  western  Kern  County. 

The  principal  sources  in  the  L'nited  States  are  the  stratified  deposits 
ill  Louisiana  and  Texas,  extraction  being  accomplished  by  a  unique 
s.ystem  of  wells  with  steam  pipes.  It  is  stated  that  the  three  large 
companies  operating  there  are  capable  of  producing  more  than  1,000,000 
tons  annually  in  excess  of  our  normal  consumption  in  the  L^nited  States, 
which  averages  about  600,000  tons.  The  mines  at  Freeport,  Texas,  are 
in  a  peculiarly  favorable  location  in  that  they  are  practically  at  tide- 
water. 

Formerly  considerable  sulphur  was  imported  from  Italy  and  from 
Japan ;  but  the  situation  is  now  reversed,  so  that  in  1922,  a  total  of 
485,706  long  tons  valued  at  $7,005,964  was  exported  from  the  United 
States,  principall.y  to  Europe  and  Canada. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


139 


CHAPTER  SIX. 

SALINES. 

BihUoqraplwj:  State  :Mineralogist  Reports  XIV,  XY,  XYII. 
letin  24. 


Biil- 


T^nder  this  heading  are  included  borax,  common  salt,  soda,  potash, 
and  other  alkaline  salts.  The  tirst  two  have  been  produced  in  a  number 
of  localities  in  California,  more  or  less  regularly  since  the  early  sixties. 
Except  for  a  single  year's  absence,  soda  has  had  a  continuous  produc- 
tion since  1894.  Potash,  magnesium  chloride  and  sulphate,  and  calcium 
chloride  have  only  recently  been  added  to  the  comm^rcial  list,  while  the 
nitrates  are  still  prospective. 

Our  main  resources  of  salines  are  the  lake  beds  of  the  desert  regions 
of  Imi)erial,  Inyo,  Kern,  Los  Angeles,  San  Bernardino,  San  Luis  Obispo, 
and  Siskiyou  counties,  and  the  waters  of  the  Pacific  Ocean. 


Substance 

1921 

1922 

Increase  ^- 
Dec^ease— 
Value 

Tons 

Value 

Tons 

Value 

Borates  -.        -.        -  .  - 

50,136 

6S3 

4,153 

14,806 

107,989 
14,828 

$1,096,326 
22,980 
106,140 
390,210 
&32,702 
438,996 

"39,087 

• 

3,036 

17.776 

223,238 

20,084 

$1,068,025 

* 

89,788 
5*4,388 
819,187 
573,(161 

$28,301— 

Calcium  chloride 

•       

Magnesium  salts 

Potash          --         

16,3o2— 
194,178-t- 

Salt  

Soda  

13,515- 
134,665+ 

Total  values  — 

'    $2,887,354 

$3,135,049 

Net  increase - 

$247,695+ 

•Concealed  under  'Unapportioned.'      "Recalculated  to  40%  'anhydrous  boric  acid'  equivalent. 


BORATES. 

Bibliography :  State  Mineralogist  Reports  III,  X,  XII,  XIII,  XIV, 
XV,  XVII,  XVIII.    Bulletins  24,  67,  91. 

During  1922,  there  was  produced  in  California,  a  total  of  74,998  tons 
of  borate  materials,  compared  with  a  total  of  50.136  tons  for  the  year 
1921.  The  material  shipped  in  1922  included  crude  and  selected  cole- 
manite  ore  varying  from  12.54%  to  32.16%  anhydrous  boric  acid 
("A.  B.  A."),  also  refined  borax  recovered  from  evaporation  of  brines 
at  Searles  Lake  in  San  Bernardino  County  (See  also  under  Potash). 

As  the  crude  ore  is  not  sold,  as  such,  and  is  almost  entirely  calcined 
before  shipping  to  the  refinery  for  conversion  into  the  borax  of 
commerce,  it  is  difficult  to  arrive  at  a  valuation  of  the  crude  ore  mined. 
For  this  reason  and  the  fact  that  the  material  varied  widely  in  boric 
acid  content,  Ave  have  re-calculated  the  tonnage  to  a  basis  of  40%  A.  B. 
A.  This  is  approximately  the  average  A.  B.  A.  content  of  the  cole- 
manite  material  after  calcining,  in  which  condition  it  is  shipped  to  the 
refinery.  A  valuation  of  50^  per  unit  of  'anhydrous  boric  acid'  w'as 
reported  for  the  calcined  material.  Recalculated  as  above,  the  1922 
production  totals  39.087  tons  valued  at  $1,068,025. 

Borax  was  first  discovered  in  California  in  the  waters  of  Tuscan 
Springs  in  Tehama  County,  January  8,  1856.  Borax  Lake,  in  Lake 
County,  was  discovered  in  September  of  the  same  year  by  Dr.  John  A. 
Veach.  This  deposit  was  worked  in  1864-1868,  inclusive,  and  during 
that  time  produced  1,181,365  pounds  of  refined  borax.  This  was  the 
first  commercial  output  of  this  salt  in  the  United  States,  and  California 


140 


MINERAIi    INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


is  still  today  the  leading  American  producer  of  borax,  having  been  for 
many  years  the  sole  producer. 

Production  from  the  dry  lake  'playa'  deposits  of  Inyo  and  San 
Bernardino  counties  began  in  1873;  but  it  was  not  until  1887  that  the 
borax  industry  was  revolutionized  by  the  discovery  of  the  colemanite 
beds  at  Calico,  in  San  Bernardino  County.  These  have  since  been  largely 
worked  out,  and  the  output  for  a  number  of  years  has  been  coming 
from  similar  beds  in  Inyo  and  Los  Angeles  counties.  In  1920  San 
Bernardino  County  again  entered  the  field  with  shipments  of  such  ore 
from  near  Daggett.  The  colemanite  deposits  of  Ventura  County  are 
at  present  unworked,  owing  to  lack  of  transportation  facilities.  Some 
production  of  coleuianite  is  being  made  from  deposits  recently  opened 
up  in  Clarke  County,  Nevada. 

Colemanite  is  a  calcium  borate,  and  the  material  mined  is  mostly 
shipped  to  eastern  chemical  plants  for  refining.  Refined  'borax' 
(sodium  tetraborate)  is  used  in  making  the  enameled  coating  for  cast- 
iron  and  steel-ware  employed  in  plumbing  fixtures,  chemical  equipment, 
and  kitchen  utensils.  It  is  also  a  constituent  of  borosilicate  glasses 
which  are  utilized  in  making  lamp  chimneys,  baking  dishes,  and 
laboratory  glassware.  Other  important  uses  of  borax  are  in  the  manu- 
facture of  laundry  and  kitchen  soaps,  in  starch,  paper  sizing,  tanning, 
welding,  and  in  the  preparation  of  boric  acid,  which  is  employed  as  an 
antiseptic  and  in  preserving  meats. 

Total   Production  of   Borate   Materials  in   California. 

The  total  production  of  borate  materials  in  California  is  shown  in 
the  following  table: 


Tear 


186i 
1865 
1866 
1867 
1868 
1869 
1870 
1871 
1872 
1873 
1874 
1875 
1876 
1877 
1878 
1879 
1880 
1881 
1882 
1883 
1884 
1885 
1886 
1887 
1888 
1889 
1890 
1891 
1892 
1893 


Tons 


Value 


12 
126 
201 
220 

32 


$9,478 

94,099 

132.538 

156,137 

22,384 


140 

515 

915 

1,168 

1.437 

993 

373 

364 

609 

690 

732 

900 

1.019 

942 

1,285 

1,015 

1,405 

965 

3.201 

4,267 

5.525 

3.955 


89,600 
255,440 
259,427 
289,080 
312,537 
193,705 
66.257 
65,443 
149,245 
189,750 
201,300 
265.500 
198.705 
155.430 
173,475 
116,689 
196,636 
145,473 
480,152 
640,000 
838,787 
593,292 


Year 


Tons 


Value 


1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1901 
1905 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1910 
1911 
1912 
1913 
1914 
1915 
1916 
1917 
1918 
1919 
1920 
1921 
1922 


5.770 

5,959 

6.754 

8.000 

8.300 

20,357 

25,837 

22,221 

"17,202 
34,430 
45,647 
46,334 
58.173 
53.413 
22,200 
16,628 
16,828 
50,945 
42,135 
58,051 
62,500 
67,004 

103,523 

109,944 
88,772 
66.791 

127.065 
50.136 

•-39,087 


$807,807 
595,900 
675,400 
1,080.000 
1.153.000 
1.139.882 
1.013.251 
982.380 
2.234.994 
661,400 
698,810 
l,019,15i5 
1,182.410 
1,200,913 
1,117,000 
1,163,960 
1,177,960 
1,456,672 
1,122,71J 
1,491,530 
1,483,500 
1,663,521 
2,409,37& 
2,561,95b 
1.867.90i» 
1,717,19!* 
2,794,200 
1,096,320 
1,068,025 


Totals 1,313,012  $44,927,710 


"Refined  borax.     '•Recalculated  to  40%  'anhydrous  bopI«  as^'  e<iuivalent. 


STATISTICS   OP    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION.  141 

CALCIUM    CHLORIDE. 

Calcium  chloride  (CaCl,)  was  reported  for  the  first  time  to  the 
State  Minino:  Bureau  as  produced  commercially,  in  1921,  from  plants  in 
San  Bernardino  County.  It  is  obtained  as  a  by-product  in  the  refining 
of  salt  from  deposits  in  certain  of  the  desert  dry  lakes.  The  total  for 
3021  amounted  to  688  tons,  valued  at  ^22,980.'  In  1922.  there  was  a 
d(  crease  in  tonnage  and  value,  as  there  was  only  a  single  operator ;  for 
this  reason,  also,  the  figures  are  concealed  under  the  'unapportioned' 
item. 

Calcium  cldoride  is  hygroscopic,  that  is,  it  has  an  affinity  for  water. 
This  property  is  taken  advantage  of  by  utilizing  this  salt  as  a  drying 
agent.  It  is  also  sprinkled  on  dirt  roads  and  playgrounds  to  keep 
down  dust  by  absorbing  moisture.  In  refrigerating  machinery  for  ice 
factories,  meat-packing  liouses  and  cold-storage  warehouses,  a  calcium- 
chloride  solution  is  stated  to  have  some  advantages  over  salt  brine.  In 
fire  buckets  this  solution  has  an  advantage  over  pure  water,  in  that  it 
has  a  lower  freezing  point,  does  not  corrode  metal,  and  tends  to  keep 
the  buckets  full  due  to  its  absorbing  moisture  from  the  atmosphere. 
Powdered  calcium  chloride  is  used  in  drying  gases,  fruits  and 
vegetables. 

MAGNESIUM    SALTS. 

Bibliography:  Bulletin  91.     'Dictionarv  of  Applied  Chemistry,'  by 
Thorpe.     U.  S.  Geol.  Surv.,  Min.  Res.  of  U.  S. 

^Magnesium  chloride  is  an  important  item  in  certain  chemical  uses, 
and  in  the  preparation  of  Sorel  cement  in  laying  magnesite  floors. 
Previous  to  1915,  Germany  was  the  ])rincipal  source  of  this  chloride. 
Some  of  the  salt  companies  in  California  began  its  commercial  prepara- 
tion in  1916,  from  the  residual  bitterns  obtained  during  the  evaporation 
of  sea  water  for  its  sodium  chloride. 

In  addition  to  the  chloride,  some  magnesium  sulphate,  or  'epsom 
salts, '  has  also  been  made  at  four  of  the  plants :  Oliver  Chemical  Com- 
pan\-  in  Alameda  County,  Whitney  Chemical  Company  in  San  Mateo 
County,  the  ]\Iarine  Chemical  Company  at  Long  Beach,  Los  Angeles 
County,  and  the  California  Chemical  Company  at  San  Diego;  though 
l)ut  two  of  them  reported  sales  of  the  sulphate  in  1922. 

In  1922,  the  prices  reported  for  the  chloride  ranged  from  $25  to  $35 
per  ton,  and  the  price  for  the  sulphate  averaged  $45. 

The  1922  output  of  chloride  and  sulphate  totaled  3,036  tons,  valued 
at  $89,788,  a  decrease  both  in  tonnage  and  value  from  the  1921  figures 
of  4,153  tons  and  $106,140. 

AVith  the  use  of  magnesite  cement  and  stucco  coming  more  into  vogue 
in  building  construction,  the  demand  for  magnesium  chloride  will 
increase  in  proportion. 

Metallic  magnesium  is  prepared  generally  by  electrolysis  of  fused 
magnesium  chloride  in  a  bath  of  an  alkaline  chloride.  In  the  United 
States,  one  j^lant  uses  a  bath  of  salt  and  ammonium  chloride.  A  plant 
at  Niagara  Falls  uses  calcined  magnesite,  the  metal  being  reduced  by 
electrolysis  of  the  fused  oxide  in  an  electrolyte  or  bath  of  fused 
fluorides.  The  commonest  known  use  of  the  metal  is  in  the  powdered 
form  for  flash  lights  in  photography.     During  the  war,  magnesium 


142 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


was  put  ill  shrapnel  shells,  that  observers  and  gunners  might  know 
exactly  where  the  shells  were  bursting.  By  day  the  burning  magnesium 
gives  a  dense  pure-white  cloud  of  magnesium  oxide,  and  at  night  a 
dazzling  white  light.  Larger  quantities  were  used  in  aerial  bombs  and 
rockets  for  ligliting  up  the  country  at  night.  Magnesium  has,  as  yet, 
found  but  a  limited  direct  use  as  a  metal.  Magnalium,  an  alloy  of 
aluminum  containing  about  2%  of  magnesium  and  small  percentages  of 
other  metals,  is  stated  to  be  used  in  automobiles  and  aeroplanes.  The 
possibilities  for  further  important  developments  in  this  direction  are 
promising. 

Total   Production   of   Magnesium   Salts   in   California. 

The   total    production   of   magnesium   salts   in   California   since  the 
beginning  of  the  industry  here,  is  shown  in  the  following  tabulation : 


Tear 


Tons 


Value 


1910 
191T 
1918 
1919 
1920 
1921 
1922 


851 
l,06i 
1,008 
1,616 
3,150 
4,153 
3,036 


$6,407 
34,973 
29,955 
82,457' 
107,787 
106,140 
89,783 


Totals- 


14,878 


$457,507 


NITRATES. 


Bihliography:  Report  XV.     Bulletins  24,   67,   91. 
Press  Bulletin  No.  373,  July,  1918. 


U.  S.  G.  S., 


Nitrates  of  sodium,  potassium  and  calcium  have  been  found  in  various 
places  in  the  desert  regions  of  the  state,  but  no  deposit  of  commercial 
value  has  been  developed  as  yet.  It  is  hoped  that  a  closer  search  may 
some  day  be  rewarded  by  workable  discoveries.  At  present  the  princi- 
pal commercial  source  of  nitrates  is  the  Chilean  saltpeter  (sodium 
nitrate)  deposits  in  South  America. 

The  fixation  of  atmospheric  nitrogen  electrically  has  been  accom- 
jili.shed  successfully  in  Germany  and  Scandinavia.  The  possibilities  of 
cheap  hydro-electric  power  in  California  make  the  subject  one  of 
intense  interest  to  us,  as  we  have  also  the  natural  raw  materials  and 
chemicals  to  go  with  the  power.  Sodium  and  potassium  cj-anides  can 
be  made  by  fixation  of  atmospheric  nitrogen  electrically. 


POTASH. 

Bibliography:  Reports  XV,  XVIII.  Bulletins  24,  61.  U.  S.  G.  S., 
Min.  Res.  1913,  1914,  1915.  Senate  Doc.  No.  190,  62d  Congress, 
2d  Session.  Mining  &  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  112,  p.  155;  Vol.  114, 
p.  789. 

Potash  production  began  commercially  in  California  in  1914,  with  a 
small  yield  from  kelp.  Considerable  time  and  money  has  been  spent 
on  research  work  incident  to  developing  deposits  of  potash-bearing 
residues  and  brines  in  the  old  lake  beds  of  the  desert  regions,  and 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  143 

production  there  has  been  aceomplishcd  on  a  commercial  basis  at  three 
plants  on  Searles  Lake. 

The  imports  of  potash  salts  and  fertilizei-s  from  German}^  previous 
to  the  European  war  had  an  annual  value  of  several  millions  of  dollars, 
and  their  cessation  made  a  domestic  production  imperative.  The  nor- 
mal pre-war  price  of  ^'Mi  to  $40  per  ton  for  high-grade  agricultural 
salts  was  succeeded  by  figures  of  several  times  those  amounts  during 
the  period  of  1915-1920.  Resumption  of  German  imports  since  1919 
has  forced  the  prices  down,  so  that  the  reports  of  the  1922  Californian 
production  show  sales  ranging  from  $18  to  $52  per  ton  for  salts  carry- 
ing from  36%  to  87%   equivalent  K„0. 

A  consular  report^  shows  the  following  annual  figures  of  production 
of  pota.sh  salts  in  Germanv:  ll.HOT.oll  metric  tons,  1913;  7,772.036  in 
1919;  11,386,439  in  1920;  9,241,179  in  1921. 

"The  potassium  salts  produced  in  Germany  in  1921  contained  1,066,849  tons  of  pure 
potash,  or  one-ninth  of  tlie  weight  of  ilie  salts.  The  potash  production  of  Germany  in 
1921   is  shown  in  the  following  table: 

"GERMAN    POTASH    PRODUCTION    IN    1921. 


Items 


Volume,       j  Pure  potash, 
kilos  kilos 


"Fertilizing  salts: 

18  to  22  per  cent  KaO - 329,081,300  46,382,000 

28  to  32  per  cent  K:0 - .'..- -— 88,693,200  26,977,900 

38  to  42  per  cent  K2O - - - —■  752,312,200  ,      305,202,500 

"Chloride  of  potash: 

50  to  60  per  cent  K:0- 354,435,500  182,304,600 

More  than  60  per  cent  K:0 —  77,685,800  48,441,100 

"Sulphate  of  potash,  containing  more  than  42  per  cent  K2O 44,625,000  22,064,100 

"Other  potash 11,709,100  j        3,203,700 

German  potash  salts  are  admitted  free  of  duty  into  the  United  States. 

During  1922,  a  total  of  17,776  tons  of  potash-bearing  materials  of 
all  grades  was  produced  in  California,  valued  at  $584,388,  compared 
with  14,806  tons,  and  $390,210  in  1921.  This  included  refined  potas- 
sium chloride  from  salt-works  bitterns,  chloride  from  Searles  Lake 
brines  and  from  kelp  char,  sulphate  from  cement  dust,  and  molasses 
from  distillery  slops  char.  The  only  yield  from  kelp  in  1922  was  from 
the  plant  at  Summerland,  Santa  Barbara  County,  formerly  operated 
by  the  U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture,  but  which  has  been  sold  to 
the  U.  S.  Kelp-Products  Company. 

A  report  issued  to  its  stockholders,  November  22,  1922,  by  the  Ameri- 
can Trona  Corporation-  operating  at  Searles  Lake,  San  Bernardino 
County,  Cal.,  says  that  in  spite  of  the  disadvantage  to  the  American 
producer  due  to  the  failure  of  the  new  tariff  law  to  have  included  a 
duty  on  foreign  potash,  the  company  has 

"lately  been  able  to  secure  reductions  in  freight  rates  which  will  mean,  on  the  present 
rate  of  its  production,  an  economy  of  about  $170,000  per  annum  on  the  transportation 
'>f  its  products.  At  the  same  time  the  price  of  fuel  oil,  which  alone  represents  over 
30  per  cent  of  the  production  costs,  has  been  reduced  from  ?2.92  per  barrel,  the  price 
at  the  beginning  of  last  year,  to  $1.38  per  barrel  at  the  present  time. 

"The  demand  in  the  United  States  for  both  potash  and  borax  has  improved  consid- 
erably during  the  last  year.  Though  the  price  of  borax  has  remained  practically 
stationary,  the  price  of  foreign  potash  has  increased  from  Qi(  net  per  unit  of  K2O  as 

'Parmelee.  Maurice.  Germany:  Trade  and  economic  review  for  1921,  No.  35,  Supple- 
ment to  Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Jan.  1923. 

^American  Trona  Corp.:  Company  report.?,  Eng.  &  Min.  Jour.,  Vol.  114,  p.  1096, 
Dec.   16,   1922. 


144 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


prevailed  last  year,  to  6Sti  net  per  unit  of  K^G  this  season,  wliicli  increase  represents 
an  advance  of  about  $2.25  per  ton  of  our  salts.  Tlie  foreign  prices  are  c.i.f.  Atlantic 
coast  ports,  to  whicli  must  be  added  freight  to  interior  points  of  consumption.  It  will 
thus  be  seen  that  owing  to  the  reduction  of  freiglit  rates  from  the  California  plant  to 
the  East,  also  to  the  lowering  of  production  costs  on  the  one  liand  and  to  the  increase 
in  the  price  of  potash  on  the  other,  tlie  company  is  in  a  more  favorable  competitive 
position — its  advantage  increasing  in  direct  ratio  to  the  distance  of  tlie  overland  haul 
of  foreign  potash.  This  favorable  position  is  particularly  felt  in  the  Middle  West, 
which  is  geographically  the  corporations'  natural  sales  area." 

******* 

"Since  the  resumption  of  operations  at  Trona  the  weekly  production  of  salts  has 
steadily  increased,  and  the  cost  of  production  has  been  steadily  reduced  at  a  gratifying 
rate,  as  is  shown  by  the  following  comparative  figures: 

"PRODUCTION  AND    RELATIVE   COSTS   OF  AMERICAN    TRONA   CORPORATION. 

Production  in  tons  of  2,000  lb. 


Potash 

Borax 

Comparison  first  four 
months  of — 

Salts 

Average 
grade  in 
per  cent 

Potassium 
chloride  con- 
tent (100  per 

cent  KCl) 

Total  tons 

potassium 

chloride  and 

borax 

1019    

1920    -- 

4.791 
3,369 
5,609 
6,593 

61 
89 
91 
92.6 

2,941 
3,019 
5,102 
6,108 

• 
1,430 
2,647 
2,834 

2,941 
4,499 
7,G49 
8,942 

1921    

1S22«    _. 

Comparison  first  four 
months  of — 


Fuel-oil  consumption  in  gallons 


Per  ton  potas- 
sium chloride 
produced 


Per  average  ton 
potassium  chlo- 
ride and  borax 
produced 


Cost  based  on  1919  production  costs  as  100  per  cent 


Per  ton  potas- 
sium chloride 
produced 


Per  ton  boras 
produced 


Per  average  ton 
potassium  chlo- 
ride and  borax 
produced 


1919 
1920 
1921 
1922* 


1.647 
857 
417 
371 


5S4 
279 
253 


100 
68.3 
32.8 
24.4 


100 
54 
40 


100 
59.3 
33.4 
24.9 


"First  four  months  in  operation— May  to  August,  1922,  inclusive. 
*No  borax  produced." 

The  bulk  of  the  1922  potash  output  of  California  was  utilized  in 
fertilizer  preparations,  and  some  was  sold  for  chemical  purposes. 

Other  uses  for  potash  salts,  besides  those  noted  above,  are  in  the 
manufacture  of  the  best  liquid  soap  and  some  higher-grade  cake  soaps, 
of  some  finer  grades  of  glass,  and  in  matches.  The  chemical  require- 
ments included  tanning,  dyeing,  metallurgy,  electroplating,  photog- 
raphy, and  medicine. 

Total    Production  of   Potash   in   California. 

The  annual  amounts  and  value  of  these  potash  materials  since  their 
beginning  in  California  in  1914,  are  shown  by  the  following  table : 


Year 


Tons 


Value 


1914 
1915 
1916 
1917 
1918 
1919 
1920 
1921 
1922 


Totals. 


10 

$460 

1,076 

19.391 

17.908 

663.605 

129,022 

4,202,889 

49,381 

6,808,976 

28,118 

2.415,963 

26.298 

1,465,463 

14,806 

390.210 

17,776 

584,088 

284.395      $16.557.J«5 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL   PKODUCTlOxV. 


145 


SALT. 

Bihliographii:  Rtat(>   ^Nriiioraloyist   Reports   IT,    XII,    XV,   XVII, 
XVill.     Bulletins  24,  67,  91. 

Most  of  the  salt  prodneed  in  California  is  obtained  by  evaporating 
the  waters  of  the  Paeifie  Oeean,  plants  beiny  located  on  the  shores  of 
San  Francisco  Bay,  Monterey  Bay,  Long  Beach,  and  San  Diego  Bay. 
Additional  amounts  are  derived  from  lakes  and  lake  beds  in  the  desert 
regions  of  the  state.  The  salt  production  of  San  Beriuirdino  County  is 
in  part  derived  from  deposits  of  rock  salt  which  are  worked  by  means 
of  quarrying  and  steam  shovels.  Some  also  is  prepared  by  crystalliza- 
tion from  the  brines  of  Searles  Lake,  which  are  worked  mainly  for 
potash  and   borax.     A   small   amount   of   valuable   medicinal  salts  is 


Harvesting  salt  at  plant  ot  !Montfit'.\'  Bay  Salt  Company,   Moss   Landing-,   INIonterey 

County,    California. 

occasionally  obtained  in  Mono  and  Tehama  counties,  by  evaporation 
from  ]\Iono  Lake  and  mineral  springs  respectively. 

Formerly  a  considei'ablc  pi'oportion  of  the  table  salt  consumed  in 
California  was  shipped  in  from  Eastern  points;  but,  at  present,  Cali- 
fornia salt  refineries  supply  not  only  our  own  needs  but  export  a  fair 
tonnage  to  other  markets. 

It  may  appear  at  first  thought  superfluous  to  enumerate  the  uses  of 
so  well-known  an  item  as  'common'  salt,  one  whose  history  antedates  the 
written  page ;  but  it  is  employed  for  many  purposes  other  than  culinary. 
A  bulletin  of  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  states  that  there  is  produced 
annually  in  the  United  States  sufficient  salt  to  supply  each  one  of  the 
106.000,000  inhabitants  with  at  least  150  pounds  apiece.  Besides  its 
culinary  uses,  salt  is  employed  in  packing  meat,  curing  fish  and  hides, 
dairying,  refrigerating,  preserving  products  from  deterioration,  pottery 

10— 2S547 


146 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OP"    CALIFORNIA. 


glaziny,  enameling,  piekle  making,  salting  live  stock,  and  in  some  chem- 
ical industries,  as  in  preparing  soda  ash  and  caustic  soda. 

Distribution  of  the  1922  salt  production  of  California,  by  counties, 
was  as  follows: 


County 

Tons 

Value 

Alameda  . .       _.  . 

139,556 
18,000 
12,222 
32,428 
21,082 

$434,076 
66,000 

Kem   

San  Bernardino  

San   Mateo 

54,259 
149,3(^2 

Los  Angeles,  Modoc,  Mono,"  Monterey,  San  Diego* 

115,550 

Totals 

2-23,238 

$819,187 

"Medicinal  salts.      "Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 

The  above  returns  show  an  increase  in  tonnage  but  a  decrease  in 
value  from  the  1921  figures  of  197,989  tons  and  $832,702.  In  1922 
there  were  ten  plants  operating  in  Alameda  County,  and  a  total  of 
twelve  plants  in  the  other  connties  tabulated. 

Production   of  Salt  in   California,  by  Years. 

Amount  and  value  of  annual  ])roduction  of  salt  in  California  from 
1887  is  shown  in  the  following  tabulation : 


Tear 

Tons 

Value 

Tear 

Tons 

Value 

1887 

28,000 

$112,000 

1906 

101,650 

$213,228 

1888 _.      

30,800 

92,400 

1907 

88,063 

310,967 

1889 

21,000 

63,000 

1908 

121,764 

281,469 

1890 

8,729 

57.085 

1909 

155,680 

414,708 

1891 

20,094 

90,303 

1910 

174,920 

395,417 

1892 

23,570 

104,788 

1911  

173.332 

324,255 

1893 

50,500 

213,000 

1912 

185,721 

383,370 

1894 

49,131 

140,087 

1913 

204,407 

462,681 

1895 

53,031 

150,576 

1914 

223,806 

583,553 

1896 

64,743 

153,244 

1915 

169.028 

368,737 

1897 

67,851 

157,520 

1916 - 

186.148 

455,695 

1898 

93,421 

170,855 

1917 

227.825 

584,373 

1899 

82,654 

149.588 

1918 

212.076 

806,328 

1900 

89,338 

204.754 

1919 

233,994 

896,963 

1901 

126,218 

366,376 

1920 

230,638 

972,648 

1902 

115,208 

205,876 

19'^1           -             _     — 

197,989 

832,702 

1903 

102,895 

211.365 

19-2-2 

223,238 

819.187 

1904 

95,968 

187,300 

IQO'i 

77,118 

141,925 

Totals 

4,310,548 

$12,078,323 

SODA. 

Bihliocjraplnj:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  XII,  XIII,  XV,  XVII, 
XVIII.     Bulletins  24,  67,  91.    U.  S.  Geol.  Surv.,  Bull.  717. 

The  production  of  carbonates  of  sodium  in  California  in  1922 
included  soda  ash  from  plants  at  Owens  Lake,  Inyo  County,  and  crude 
'trona'  from  Searles  Lake,  San  Bernardino  County.  There  were  no 
shipments  in  1921-1922  of  sulphate  from  the  deposit  on  Carrizo  Plains, 
San  Luis  Obispo  County.  The  total  amounted  to  20,084  tons,  valued 
at  $573,661,  ])eing  an  increase  over  the  output  of  1921.  which  was 
14.828  tons,  wortJi  $438,996.  For  the  current  year,  1923.  shipments 
are  being  made  from  a  deposit  of  the  anhydrous  sulphate  (theuardite) 
at  Bertram  station  in  the  Salton  Sea  basin,  Imperial  County. 


STATISTICS    OF    ANNTAL    PRODI'CTIOK. 


14' 


Tlu'se  'sodas'  produced  in  California  have  been  used  in  the  manu- 
facture of  ^dass.  soap,  and  jiaper,  as  well  as  for  Avashing  and  baking 
soda,  in  sugar  retining,  and  in  various  chemical  industries.  The  crude 
trona  shipped  \va.s  used  for  neutralizing  in  tiotation  concentration  in 
I>lace  of  soda  ash.  For  several  years  a  portion  of  California's  product 
was  exported,  but  since  the  latter  part  of  1920,  the  export  demand  has 
fallen  oft'. 


'.Salt    Cake"    deposit     (mainly    tlienarilite.    anliydrous    sodium    sulphate),    at    Bertram 
station    in   the    Salton    Basin,    Imperial   County.      Photo   by    E.    N.    Smith. 

Sodium  compounds  are  replacing  potassium  compounds,  either  wholly 
or  in  part,  in  glass  and  soap  making,  in  photography,  in  match  mak- 
ing, in  tanning,  and  in  the  manufacture  of  cyanide  for  extracting  gold 
and  silver  from  their  ores. 

Soda   Production   of  California,  by   Years. 

The  total  output,  showing  amount  and  value  of  these  materials  in 
California  since  the  inception  of  the  statistical  records  of  the  State 
Mining  Bureau,  is  given  in  the  table  which  follows: 


Tear 


Tons 


Value 


Tear 


Tons 


Value 


1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 
1906 
1907 
1908 


1,530 

1.900 

3,000 

5,000 

7,000 

10,000 

1,000 

8,000 

7,000 

18,000 

12,000 

15,000 

12,000 


$20,000 

47,500 

65,000 

110,000 

154,000 

250,000 

50,000 

400,000 

50,000 

27,000 

18,000 

22,  SCO 

18,000 


9,600 


14,4fj0 


1909 
1910 
1911 
1912 
1913 
1914 
1915 
1916 
1917 
1918 
1919 
1920 
1921 
1922 


7,712 

$11,593 

8,125 

11,862 

9,023 

52,887 

7,200 

37,094 

1,861 

24,936 

6,522 

115,396 

5,799 

83,485 

10,593 

264,825 

24.505 

928,578 

20,447 

855,423 

21,294 

721,958 

32,407 

1,164,898 

14,828 

438,996 

20,084 

573,661 

Totals 301,430     $6,.531,992 


148 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


CHAPTER  SEVEN. 

BY  COUNTIES. 

Introductory. 

The  State  of  California  includes  a  total  area  of  158,360  square  miles, 
of  which  155,980  square  miles  are  of  land.  The  maximum  width  is  235 
miles,  the  minimum,  148  miles;  and  the  length  from  the  northwest 
corner  to  the  southeast  corner  is  775  miles.  The  state  is  divided  into 
fifty-eight  counties.  The  1920  census  figures  show  a  total  population 
for  California  of  3,437,709.  Minerals  of  commercial  value  exist  in 
every  county,  and  during  1922  some  active  production  was  reported  to 
the  State  ^Mining  Bureau  from  all  of  the  fiftj^-eight. 

Of  the  first  ten  counties  in  point  of  total  output  for  1922,  the  first 
four  (Kern,  Los  Angeles,  Orange,  Fresno)  owe  their  position  mainly 
to  petroleum,  as  do  also  Ventura  (sixth),  and  Santa  Barbara  (seventh). 
Kern,  due  to  its  oil,  leads  all  the  others  though  challenged  by  Los 
Angeles,  its  nearest  competitor.  San  Bernardino  ow^es  its  place  chiefly 
to  cement,  silver,  potash,  and  borax;  Riverside  to  cement,  brick  and 
tile;  Santa  Cruz  to  cement;  Plumas  to  copper.  Twenty-two  counties 
have  each  a  total  in  excess  of  a  million  dollars,  for  1922.  Cement  is  an 
important  item  in  seven  of  these  counties.  In  point  of  variety  and 
diversity,  San  Bernardino  County  led  all  the  others  in  1922,  with  a 
total  of  19  different  mineral  products  on  its  commercial  list,  followed 
by  San  Diego  with  18;  Inyo  with  17;  Los  Angeles  with  15;  Kern, 
Placer  and  Riverside,  13  each;  Shasta,  12;  Santa  Barbara,  11;  Fresno, 
10;  Calaveras,  Imperial,  Nevada,  Santa  Clara,  and  Tuolumne,  9  each. 
The  counties  with  their  mineral  resources,  production  for  1922,  etc., 
are  considered  in  detail  in  the  following  paragraphs. 

Value    of    California's    Mineral    Production    by    Counties,    for    1922.     Arranged    in    the 

Order  of  Their   Importance. 


County 


Value 


1.  Kern  

2.  Los  Angeles 

3.  Orange   

4.  Fresno 

5.  San  Bernardino 

6.  Ventura    

7.  Santa  Barbara  . 

8.  Santa  Cruz 

9.  Plumas  

10.  Riverside 

11.  Solano 

12.  Nevada  

13.  Yuba   

14.  .A.mador   

15.  Contra  Costa  .. 

16.  Sacramento  

17.  Inyo  

18.  Alameda 

19.  San  Benito 

20.  Sierra    

21.  Shasta -. 

22.  Calaveras 

23.  Santa  Clara  — 

24.  Butte 

25.  Tuo'umne  

26.  San  Diego 

27.  Madera  ■ 

28.  San  Joaquin 

29.  Stanislaus 

30.  Placer  


$68,551,002 

62,751,671 

38,926,087 

10,853,433 

8,547,900 

5,837,078 

4,613,358 

3,608,805 

3,314,498 

3.243,917 

3,108,114 

2,966,005 

2,588,316 

2,479,063 

2,397,312 

2,189,562 

2,137,681 

2,(M1,454 

1,794,248 

1,770.626 

1.513,591 

1,502,883 

894,038 

720,625 

764,938 

656,807 

476,264 

473,.'59-> 

452,167 

405,975 


County 


Value 


31.  Marin 

32.  Tulare 

33.  Napa 

34.  Monterey 

3.).  San  Mateo 

36.  Mariposa    

37.  Sonoma   

38.  Trinity  

30.  Imperial  

40.  El  Dorado  

41.  Merced 

42.  San  Luis  Obispo. 

43.  Humboldt  - - 

44.  Siskiyou 

45.  Glenn  

46.  Mono 

47.  Colusa    

48.  San  Francisco  .. 

49.  Lake 

50.  Lassen 

51.  Mendocino 

"2.  Modoc 

53.  Yolo 

M.  Tehama   

55.  Kings  

56.  Del  Norte  

.57.  Alpine  

.58.  Sutter   — 


Total. 


$403,099 

371,845 

312,270 

255,319 

243,984 

226,832 

221,941 

197,937 

188,739 

184,525 

157,579 

141.470 

125,613 

101,463 

91,250 

86,863 

•     75,934 

65,409 

48,289 

27,327 

20,52fi 

16,018 

13,431 

9,388 

6,806 

6,261 

2,800 

97 


$245,183,826 


STATrSTICS   OF    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  149 

ALAMEDA. 


Area:  843  square  miles. 
Population:  344,177  (1!)20  eensus) 


Alameda  County,  while  in  no  sense  one  of  the  'mining  counties,' 
comes  eighteenth  on  the  list  with  a  va'ue  of  mineral  products  for  1922 
of  $2,041,454,  an  increase  over  the  1921  total,  which  was  $1,353,690. 
The  mineral  resources  of  this  county  include  asbestos,  brick,  chromite, 
clay,  coal,  limestone,  raagnesite,  manganese,  pyrite,  salt,  soapstone,  and 
miscellaneous  stone. 

Commercial  production  for  1922  was  as  follows : 

Substance  Amount  Value 

Clay  and  clay  products. — -- ?777,354 

Manganese  ore _ — -—               130  tons  1,020 

Salt -- - 139,556  tons  434,076 

Stone,  miscellaneous  760,422 

other  minerals* .- _ --  68,582 

Total  value - _ — -      $2,041,434 

•Includes  magnesium  salts,  and  pyrites. 

ALPINE. 

Area  :  776  scjuare  miles. 
J'opulation:  243  (1920  census). 

AI|)iii('  hris  ill  the  i>ast  shown  a  small  piixluctioii  of  gold  and  silver, 
hut  droi)pe(l  out  of  the  list  of  producing  counties  in  1914-1918.  For 
1922,  a  total  value  of  $2,800  was  reported,  as  follows: 

Substance  Value 

Stone,  miscellaneous — -. — - -        $2,800 

This  county  lies  just  south  of  Lake  Tahoe,  in  the  high  Sierra  Nevada 
range  of  mountains.  Transportation  is  by  auto,  wagon,  or  mule  back, 
and  facilities  in  general  are  lacking  to  promote  development  work  of 
any  kind. 

The  mineral  resources  of  thiuS  section  are  varied  and  the  country  has 
not  yet  been  thoroughly  prospected.  Occurrences  of  barium,  copper, 
gold,  gypsum,  lead,  limestone,  pyrite,  rose  quartz,  silver,  tourmaline, 
and  zinc  have  been  noted  here. 

AMADOR. 

Area:  601  square  miles. 
Population:  7,793  (1920  census). 

The  value  of  Amador  County's  mineral  production  increased  from 
$2,368,464  in  1921,  to  $2,479,063,  placing  it  number  fourteen  on  the  list 
of  counties  in  the  state  as  regards  total  value  of  mineral  substances 
marketed.  The  advance  was  due  to  an  increase  in  clay  products  and 
gold  output. 

Although  having  an  output  consisting  of  8  different  minerals,  the 
leading  product,  gold,  makes  up  approximately  91%  of  the  entire  total. 

Amador  at  one  time  led  the  state  in  gold  production,  but  was  exceeded 
in  1920-1922  bv  Yuba  and  Nevada  counties. 


150  MINERAI.    INDrSTKV    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

Tlu-  mineral  resources  of  this  county  inuhule  a.sl)estos.  brick,  chroniite, 
clay,  coal,  copper,  gold,  lime,  quart/  crystals,  glass-sand,  santlstone, 
silver,  soapstone,  and  miseellaneams  stone. 

Commercial  production  for  1922  was  as  follows: 

Subs^tance                                                                                                   Amount  Value 

Clay  (iwttery) 39,572  tons  $68,126 

Gold    2,^11,100 

Silica    -- 865  tons  5,030 

Silver   32,287 

Stone,  miscellaneous  7,300 

Other  minerals* 125,220 

Total  value $2,479,063 

•Includes  brick  and  platinum. 


BUTTE. 

Area:  1.722  square  miles. 
Population:  30.080  (1920  census). 
Location  :  North-central  portion  of  state. 


Butte,  twenty-fourth  county  in  California  in  regard  to  the  value  of 
its  mineral  output,  reported  a  commercial  production  of  eight  mineral 
sul)stances.  having  a  total  value  of  >i<720.625  as  compared  with  $669,830 
in  1920.  As  will  be  noted  in  the  following  tabulation,  gold  is  by  far  the 
most  important  item.  Hutte  stands  seventh  among  the  gold-producing 
counties  of  the  state.  Among  tlie  mineral  resources  of  this  section  are 
asl)estos,  barytes,  chromite.  gems.  gold,  limestone,  marble,  mineral  water, 
platinum  group,  silver,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Commercial  value  for  1922  was  as  follows : 

Substance  Amount  Value 

Diamond.s    $225 

Gold    491,201 

Mineral  water  2,8.35  gals.  2,485 

Platinum    —                 30  fine  oz.  3,826 

Silver    1,890 

Stone,  miscellaneous  220,450 

Other  minerals  548 

Total  value - $720,625 

CALAVERAS. 

Area:  1,027  sfjuare  miles. 

Population:  6.183  ( 1920  census). 

Location  :  East-central  portion  of  state — ^Mother  Lode  district. 

Calavera.s  County  reported  production  of  9  different  minerals,  valued 
at  $l.o02.883  during  the  year  1922  as  compared  with  the  1921  output 
at  ii^l.525.201.  ( Jold.  copper,  and  silver  are  the  chief  mineral  sul)stances. 
In  regard  to  total  value  of  mineral  output,  Calaveras  stands  twenty- 
second  among  the  (-(uinties  of  the  state,  and  fifth  in  gold.  The  decrease, 
as  compared  with  1921,  is  due  mainly  to  gold. 

The  i)riucipal  mineral  resources  developed  and  undeveloped  are: 
Asbestos,  chromite.  clay,  (opper.  fullers'  earth,  gold,  limestone,  marble, 
mineral  paint,  mineral  water,  platinum  group,  pyrite.  quartz  crystals, 
.silver,  soap.stone.  and  miscellaneous  st<me. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL    PRODUCTIOX.  151 


Commercial  output  for  li>22  Avas  as  follows: 

Substance  Amount  Value 

Gold    _ -- _ --  $1,413,4«5 

Minoral  water  - - 1,914  gal.  639 

Platinum    -.. - - - 22  fine  oz.  2,150 

Silver  — -- —  11,648 

Stone,  miscellaneous  — 35,590 

Other  minerals*  - — - —  39,3;j1 

Total  value _ - $l,502,8S3 

•Includes  clay  (pottery),  copper,  gems. 

COLUSA. 

Ar((i:   1.140  s(jiiMro  miles. 
ropitlafian:  9.920  (1920  census). 
Location :  Sacramento  Valley. 

Colusa  County  lies  largely  in  the  l)asin  of  the  Sacramento  Valley. 
Its  western  border,  however,  rises  into  the  foothills  of  the  Coast  Range 
of  mountains,  and  its  mineral  resources — largely  undeveloped — include 
coal,  chromite.  copper.  Liyjisinn,  manganese,  mineral  water,  pyrite, 
(luicksilver.  sandstone,  misiellaneans  stone,  sulphur,  and  in  some  i)laces 
traces  of  gold  and  silver. 

The  value  of  the  1922  production  was  $75,984.  a  decrease  from  the 
1921  figures  of  .i^S0.4.S8.  giving  it  forty-seventh  place,  and  was  as 
follows : 

Substance  Value 

I'napportioned*  ._ —  $75,934 

•Includes  gold,  mineral  water,  silver,  miscellaneous  stone. 


CONTRA   COSTA. 

Area:  714  sgnare  miles. 
Population:  53,889   (1920  census). 

Contra  Costa,  like  Alameda  County,  lies  on  the  eastern  shores  of  San 
Francisco  Bay.  and  is  not  commonly  considered  among  the  mineral- 
producing  counties  of  the  state.  It  stands  fifteenth  on  the  list  in  this 
respect,  however,  with  an  output  valued  at  $2,:i97,812  for  the  calendar 
.vear  1922.  Various  structural  materials  make  up  the  chief  items, 
including  brick,  cement,  limestone,  and  miscellaneous  stone.  Among 
the  others  are  asbestos,  clay,  coal,  gypsum,  manganese,  mineral  water, 
and  soapstone. 

Commercial  production  for  1922  was  as  follows: 


Substance                                                                                                    Amount  Value 

Brick  and  tile.. — $307,749 

Clay  (pottery)   7,086  tons  12,910 

Stone,  miscellaneous  559,915 

Other  minerals* _  1,516,738 

Total  value $2,397,312 

•Includes  cement,  limestone,  mineral  water. 


152  MINERAT.    INDUSTRY   OF    CAIilPORNIA. 

DEL   NORTE. 

Area:  1,024  !S(|uaiH'  miles. 
Populaiion:  2,759  (1920  census). 
Locaiion  :  Extreme  northwest  eorner  of  state. 
Transportation:    ]\Iotor,    wagon    and    mule    baek;    steamer    from 
Crescent  City. 

Del  Norte  rivals  Alpine  County  in  regard  to  inaccessibility.  Like 
the  latter  count}'  also,  given  transportation  and  kindred  facilities,  this 
portion  of  the  state  presents  a  wide  field  for  development  along  mining 
lines  especially.  Its  chief  mineral  resources,  largely  untouched,  are 
chromite,  copper,  gems,  gold,  iron,  platinum  group,  silver,  and  mis- 
cellaneous stone.  The  3  922  ()uti)ut  was  a  slight  increase  over  the  figure 
of  $6,029  in  1921. 

Commercial  production  for  1922,  giving  it  fifty-sixth  place,  was  as 
follows : 

Substance  Value 

Stone,   miscellaneous   - - - $5,500 

Other  minerals* - 761 

Total  value - $6,261 

♦Includes  gold,  platinum,  silver. 

EL   DORADO. 

Ar(<i:   l.Tolj  sipiarc  miles. 
l\>piil(ilioii :  ().42G   (1920  census). 

Location:  East-central  portion   of  llic  s1;it<',   noiHiciiiiiiosI    of  the 
]\Iother  Lode  counties. 

El  Dorado  County,  which  contains  the  locality  where  gold  in  Cali- 
fornia was  first  heralded  to  the  world,  comes  fortieth  on  the  list  of 
counties  ranked  according  to  the  value  of  their  total  mineral  production 
during  the  year  1922.  In  addition  to  the  segregated  figures  here  given, 
a  large  tonnage  of  limestone  is  annually  shipped  from  El  Dorado  for 
use  in  cement  manufacture,  and  whose  value  is  included  in  the  state 
total  for  cement.  The  increase,  over  the  1921  figure  of  $112,756  was 
due  mainly  to  limestone. 

The  mineral  resources  of  this  section,  many  of  them  undeveloped, 
include  asbestos,  barytes,  chromite,  clay,  copper,  gems,  gold,  iron, 
molybdenum,  limestone,  (piartz  crystals,  quicksilver,  slate,  soapstone, 
silver,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Commercial  production  for  1922  was  as  follows: 

Substance  Amount  Value 

Gold — - $47,340 

Limestone   -           42,200  tons  113,709 

Silver - 37S 

Stone,  miscellaneous 4,2j0 

(>tlipr  minerals* 18,850 

Total  value - $184.52* 

MiK'ltidci  slate  and  soapstone. 


STATISTICS   or    ANNT\\L    PRODTiCTlOX.  I.'l3 

FRESNO. 

Area :  5,950  square  miles. 
Popiilafion:  128.779  (1920  eensus). 
Lotat'wn  :  South-central  portion  of  state. 

Fresno  County,  fourth  in  importance  as  a  mineral  producer  among 
the  counties  of  California,  reported  an  output  for  1922  of  ten  mineral 
substances,  with  a  total  value  of  $10,853,433,  a  decrease  from  the 
reported  1921  production,  which  was  worth  $19,498,503.  The  bulk  of 
the  above  is  derived  from  the  petroleum  production  of  the  Coalinga 
field. 

The  mineral  resources  of  this  county  are  many,  and,  aside  from  crude 
oil,  are  in  tlie  main  not  yet  fully  developed.  They  include  asbestos, 
barytes,  Ijrick.  cliromite.  copjHM',  gems,  gold,  graphite,  gypsum,  mag- 
nesite,  natural  gas.  i)etro]eum.  (luicksilver,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Commercial  i)roduction  for  1922  was  as  follows: 

Substance                                                                                               Amount  Value 

Brick  and  tile - - - $220,737 

Gold - - - 10.442 

Granitg   — - - 28,600 

Natural  gas 1,694,000  M.  cu.  ft.  89,277 

Petroloiim    - 9,265,529  bbls.  9,895,5S2 

Silver   - - - --  ^7 

stone,  miscellaneous 600,348 

Otlicr  minerals  8,360 

Total  viihie.. - - i?10,853,433 

GLENN. 

Ar((i:  1,259  scpiare  miles. 
I'opulation:  11,853   (1920  cen.sus). 
Location  :  "West  side  of  Sacramento  \'alley. 

Glenn  County,  .standing  forty-fifth,  owes  its  position  among  the 
mineral-producing  counties  of  the  state  mainly  to  the  presence  of  large 
deposits  of  sand  and  gravel  which  are  annually  worked,  the  product' 
being  used  for  railroad  ballast,  etc.  In  1917  and  1918,  chromite  was 
also  an  important  item.  In  the  foothills  in  the  western  portion  of  the 
county,  deposits  of  cliromite,  copper,  manganese,  sandstone,  and  soap- 
stone  have  been  found. 

Commercial  production  for  1922  was  as  follows. 

Substance  Value 

Stone,  miscellaneous $91,250 

HUMBOLDT. 

Area  :  3,634  s(|uare  miles. 
Population:  37,857  (1920  census). 

Location:    Northwestern    portion    of    state,    bordering    on    Pacific 
Ocean. 

Humboldt  County  is  almost  entirely  mountainous,  transportation 
within  its  limits  being  very  largely  by  auto  and  wagon  road,  and  trail, 
and  until  recent  years  was  reached  from  the  outside  world  by  steamer 


154  MIXERAK    IXDTSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

only.  Tlie  county  is  rich  in  mineral  resources,  among  which  are  brick, 
chromite,  coal,  clay,  copper,  gold,  iron,  mineral  water,  natural  gas, 
petroleum,  platinum,  silver,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Nine  mineral  substances,  as  shown  bv  the  table  given  below,  having 
a  total  value  of  $125,613,  were  produced  in  1922,  as  compared  with  the 
1921  output,  worth  $138,597,  the  decrease  being  due  mainly  to  miscel- 
laneous stone.  lIum])oldt  ranks  forty-third  among  the  counties  of  the 
state  for  the  year. 

Commercial  production  for  1922  was  as  follows: 

Substance                                                                                              Amouot  Value 

Brick  and  clay  (pottery) ?6,39f) 

Gold    1,330 

Platinum    i  fine  oz.  413 

Silver   10 

Stone,  miscellaneous  117,308 

Other  minerals*  153 

Total  value $125,613 

*Includes  mineral  water  and  natural  gas. 

IMPERIAL. 

Area:  4,089  square  miles. 

Population:  43.383  (1920  census V 

Location  :  Extreme  southeast  corner  of  the  state. 

During  1922  Imperial  County  produced  nine  mineral  substances 
having  a  total  value  of  $188,739,  as  compared  with  the  1921  output, 
worth  $182,818.  Its  rank  is  thirty-nintli.  This  county  contains  deposits 
of  gold,  gypsum,  lead,  marble,  pumice,  salt,  silver,  and  strontium, 
largely  undeveloped. 

Commercial  ]n-oduction  for  1922  was  as  follows: 

Substance  Value 

Gold    - - $350 

Silver 18,024 

Stone,  miscellaneous  154,560 

Other  minerals* 15,905 

Total  value -         $188,739 

•Includes  brick,  gypsum,  lead,  marble,  pumice. 

INYO. 

Area:  10,019  square  miles. 
Population  :  7,031   (1920  census). 

Location  :  Lies  on  eastern  border  of  state,  north  of  San  Bernardino 
County. 

Inyo,  the  second  largest  county  in  the  state,  and  containing  less  than 
one  inhaliitant  per  square  mile,  is  extremely  interesting  from  a  mineral- 
ogical  point  of  view.  It  is  noted  because  of  the  fact  that  within  its 
borders  are  located  both  the  highest  point,  Mount  Whitney  (elevation 
14,502  feet),  and  the  lowest  point.  Death  Valley  Celevation  290  feet 
below  sea  level),  in  the  United  States.  In  the  higher  mountainous 
sections  are  found  many  vein-forming  minerals,  and  in  the  lake  beds 
of  Death  Valley  saline  deposits  exist. 


STATISTICS    OK    ANMAI.    I'KODICTIO.N.  15;") 

Tnyo's  mineral  production  during-  the  year  1922  reached  a  value  of 
$2,137,(58],  standiuir  seventeenth  among  the  counties  of  the  state  in 
this  respect.  The  11)21  value  was  .tl,4(i0,218,  the  increase  being  due 
mainly  to  lead,  silver,  and  soda.  Its  mineral  resources  include 
antimony,  asbestos,  barytes,  borax,  eop[)er.  gems,  gold,  gypsum,  lead, 
marble,  .soda,  sulphur,  tale,  tungsten,  and  zinc. 

Commercial  production  was  as  follows: 

Substance                                                                                               Amount  Value 

Copper    _ 69,537  lbs.  $9,388 

Dolomite -- -- -    '       43,778  tons  72,2R1 

(iold 85.265 

U'arl     _ - 6,26M38  lbs.  344,528 

Silver   - 256,009 

stone,  miscellaneous  12,000 

Other  minerals*  - 1,3-58,207 

Total  value --      $2,137.6P1 

•Includes  borates,  building-  stone,  clay  (pottery),  fuller's  earth,  limestone,  marble,  pumice,  soda, 
talc,  zinc. 

KERN. 

Arm:  8,()0.S  sqnare  miles. 
Population:  54.848   (1920  census). 
Location :  South-central  portion  of  state. 

Kern  rount>'.  because  of  its  immensely  productive  oil  fields,  stands 
preeminent  among  all  counties  of  ( "aiifornia  in  the  value  of  its  minei-al 
output,  the  exact  figures  for  1922  ])eing  $68,551,002.  This  is  approached 
oidy  by  Los  Angeles  County  in  1922,  for  which  petroleum  is  also 
responsible.  This  figure  is  more  than  four  times  the  value  of  the  total 
gold  output  of  the  entire  state  for  1922.  The  1921  mineral  ()ut])ut  for 
Kern  County  was  worth  .$100,840,988.  The  decrease  was  due  to  the 
lower  prices  for  crude  oil  of  all  grades,  and  to  the  fact  that  a  large 
number  of  wells  in  the  San  Joaquin  valley  fields  were  'shut  in'  o^\^ng 
to  the  over-production  of  liigh-gravity  oil  in  the  new  gusher  fields  of 
the  Los  Angeles  basin. 

Among  the  mineral  resources,  developed  and  undeveloped,  of  this 
section  are:  Antimony,  asphalt,  l)orax,  brick,  clay,  copper,  fuller's 
earth,  gems,  gold,  gypsum,  iron,  lead,  limestone,  magnesite,  marble, 
mineral  paint,  natural  gas,  petroleum,  potash,  salt,  silver,  soap.stone, 
soda,  sulphur,  and  tungsten. 

Commercial  production  for  1922  was  as  follows: 

Substance                                                                                                    Amount  Value 

Urick-    5,082  M  $66,6.52 

[       Gold 124,337 

Natural  gas 47,644,633  M.  cu.  ft.  2,282,100 

Petroleum    .- 53,512,157  bbls.  64,803,222 

Salt   -- - — 18,000  tons  66,000 

(Silver   6,,524 

Stone,  miscellaneous  35,585 

1       other  minerals* -- 1,166,.582 

Total  value $68,551,002 

•Includes  cement,  copper,  lead,  lime,  silica. 


156  MINERAT;    INDUSTRY    OF   CALIFORNIA. 

KINGS. 

Area:  1,159  square  miles. 

Popxilation:  22,031   (1920  census). 

Location :  South-central  portion  of  the  state. 

Little  development  has  taken  place  in  Kings  County  along  mineral 
lines  to  date.  Deposits  of  fuller's  earth,  gypsum,  mineral  paint,  natural 
gas,  and  quicksilver,  of  undetermined  extent,  have  been  found  in  the 
count.v.  Some  drilling  for  oil  has  been  under  way,  but  there  has,  as 
yet.  been  no  commercial  output  recorded. 

Tulare  Lake  is  in  Kings  County. 

In  fifty-fifth  place,  commercial  mineral  production  in  this  county 
for  1922  was  as  follows : 

Substance  Amount  Value 

Natural  gas  - 1,790  M.  cu. ft.  $870 

Other  minerals  - 6,3^ 

Total  value - - —  $6,806 

LAKE. 

Area:  1,278  square  miles. 
Population:  5,542  (1920  census). 

Location :  About  fift\'  miles  north  of  San  Francisco  Bay  and  the 
same  distance  iiilaml  from  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

On  account  of  its  t()i)ography  and  natural  beauties,  Lake  County  is 
sometimes  referred  to  as  the  Switzerland  of  America.  The  mineral 
resources  wliich  exist  here  are  many  and  varied,  actual  production 
being  comparativel.v  small,  as  shown  by  tlie  table  below,  and  in  the  past 
composed  mainly  of  quicksilver,  and  mineral  water.  Some  of  the  lead- 
ing minerals  found  in  this  section,  in  part  as  yet  undeveloped,  are 
borax,  chromite,  clay,  copper,  gems,  gold,  gypsum,  mineral  water, 
quicksilver,  silver,  and  sulphur. 

In  fortieth  place,  commercial  production  for  1922  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                              Amount  Value 

Mineral  water 60,420  gals.  ?29,370 

Quicksilver -- 38  flasks  2,000 

Stone,  miscellaneous 16,669 

other  minerals  250 

Total  value ^,283 

LASSEN. 

^  Area :  4,531  square  miles. 
Population:  8,507  (1920  census). 
Location  :  Xorthea.st  portion  of  state. 

Lassen  County  is  one  of  the  little-exi)lored  sections  of  California. 
Since  about  1912  a  railroad  traversing  the  county  north  and  south  has 
l)een  in  operation,  thus  affording  opi)ortunity  for  development  along 
inineral  and  other  lines. 

Among  the  mineral  resources  of  this  county  are  copper,  gems, 
gypsum,  gold,  silver,  and  sulphur.     In  the  past,  some  gold  had  been 


STATISTICS   OF    ANN' LAI.    PRODUCTION.  157 

produced,  but  not  for  some  years,  until  1921,  when  the  yield  again 
became  important. 

In  fiftieth  place,  commercial  production  for  192l2  was  as  follows: 

Substance  Value 

Stone,  miscellaneous $9,450 

Other  minerals* - — - -  17,877 

Total  value - - -—  $27,327 

•Includes  brick,  gold,  silver. 


LOS  ANGELES. 

Area:  4,067  s(iuare  miles. 

Population:  936,438   (1920  census). 

Location  :  One  of  the  southwestern  coast  counties. 

Mineral  production  in  Los  Angeles  County  for  the  year  1922 
amounted  in  value  to  $62,751,671  as  compared  with  the  1921  output, 
worth  $31,704,941.  This  county  ranked  second  in  the  state  as  a  mineral 
producer  in  1922,  liaving  passed  Orange  County  which  has  l)een  second 
for  several  years.  The  advance  was  due  mainly  to  the  large  increase 
in  the  petroleum  yield,  and  in  part  to  an  increase  in  the  output  of 
bricks,  building  tile,  natural  gas,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Its  output  of  brick  and  tile  was  over  four  million  (lollars.  and  tliat 
of  petroleum  amounted  to  nearly  fifty-three  million  doUars.  Among  tiie 
mineral  resources  may  be  noted  asphalt,  barytes,  borax,  brick,  clay, 
fuller's  earth,  gems,  gold,  gypsum,  infusorial  earth,  limestone,  marble, 
mineral  paint,  mineral  water,  natural  gas.  petroleum,  salt,  glass-sand, 
sandstone,  serpentine,  silver,  soapstone.  and  miscellaneous  stone.  Some 
l)()tash  has  been  obtained  from  kelp. 

Commercial  production  for  1922,  consisting  of  15  substances,  was  as 
follows : 

Substance                                                                                               Amount  Value 

Brick    ^40,424  M.  $4,190,185 

lUiilding  til9 39,095  tons  397,1.SS 

Clay  (pottery) 54,924  tons  66,519 

Limestone   — - 12,096  tons  35,l(i8 

Mineral  water 300,400  gals.  15,450 

Natural  gas 23,254,549  M.  1,653,571 

Petroleum    37,726,367  bbls.  62,930,093 

Stone,   miscellaneous 3,390,477 

Otli'T  minerals*  72,772 

Total  value- $62,751,671 

•Incliidps  borates,  gold,  graphite,  magnesium  salts,  salt,  silver. 


MADERA. 

Area:  2,112  square  miles. 
Population:  12,203  (1920  census). 
Location :  Ea,st-central  portion  of  state. 

]\Iadera  County  prodiu-ed  six  mineral  substances  during  the  year 
1922,  having  a  total  value  of  $476,264,  as  compared  with  the  1921  out- 
put worth  $467,667.  This  county  contains  deposits  of  copper,  gold, 
iron,  lead,  molybdenum,  pumice,  silver,  and  building  stone. 


158  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

In  twenty-seventh  place,  eouunereial  production  for  1922  was  as 
follows : 

Substance  Value 

Gold   - $1,594 

Granite  ' 4»4,2-22 

Silver  3,500 

Stone,  miscellaneous  -.. 16,048 

Total  value —         $176,264 

MARIN. 

Area:  529  scpiare  miles. 

Population:  27,342  (1920  census). 

Location  :  Adjoins  San  Francisco  on  the  north. 

]\Iineral  ])roduction  in  Marin  County  during  the  year  1922  reached 
a  value  of  $408,099.  as  compared  to  the  1921  output,  worth  $318,776, 
the  increase  being  due  to  crushed  rock,  and  l)rick.  This  county  is  not 
especially  prolific  in  minerals,  although  among  its  resources  along  these 
lines  are  brick,  gems,  manganese,  mineral  water,  soapstone,  and  mis- 
cellaneous stone. 

In  thirty-first  place,  commercial  production  for  1922  was: 

Substance  Value 

Unapportion"d*  $103,080 

*InfUules  Itriek,  mineral  Avater,  potash,  miscellaneous  stone. 

MARIPOSA. 

Area:  1,463  square  miles. 
Population:  2,775  (1920  census). 

Location :  Most   southerly   of   the   Mother   Lode   counties.     East- 
central  portion  of  state. 

Mariposa  County  is  one  of  the  distinctly  'mining'  counties  of  the 
state,  although  it  stands  but  thirty-sixth  on  the  list  of  counties  in 
regard  to  the  value  of  its  mineral  output  for  1922,  with  a  total  of 
$226,832,  as  compared  with  the  1921  figure  of  $342,601,  the  decrease 
being  due  to  gold. 

Its  mineral  resources  are  varied;  among  the  more  important  items 
being  barytes,  copper,  gems,  gold,  lead,  marble,  silver,  slate,  soapstone, 
and  miscellaneous  stone. 

The  Yosemite  Valley  i,s  in  Mariposa  County. 

Commercial  production  in  1922  was  as  follows: 

Substance  Value 

Gold    $218,571 

Silver  3,301 

.*^tone,  miscellaneous  2,000 

Other  minerals* - 2,960 

Total  value — -         $226,832 

*Includes  barytes  and  pyrites. 


STATISTICS    OF    ANNl'AL    PRODrCTION.  159 

MENDOCINO. 

Area:  3,453  s(iuare  miles. 
Population:  24.116  (1920  census). 

Location  :  Joins  Humboldt  County  on  the  south  and  bounded  by 
the  Pacific  Ocean  on  the  west. 

Mendocino's  annual  miiuTal  production  lias  usually  been  small,  the 
1922  output  beinjr  valued  at  $20,526,  ranking-  it  fifty-first  among  the 
counties.     That  of  1921  was  worth  $44,722. 

Deposits  of  in  part  undetermined  value  of  asbestos,  chromite,  coal, 
copper,  graphite,  magnesite,  and  mineral  water  have  been  found,  as 
well  as  traces  of  gold,  platinum,  and  silver. 

Commercial  production  for  1922  was  as  follows: 

Substance  Value 

Stone,  miscellaneous _  $18,?-2fi 

Other  minerals* ...' 1,800 

Total  value. $20,526 

*Influiles  brick,  natural  gns,  platinum. 

MERCED. 

Area:  1,995  square  miles. 

Population:  24,579   (1920  census). 

Ijocation  :  Al)out  the  geographical  center  of  the  state. 

Merced  County  as  a  whole  lies  in  the  San  Joaquin  Valley,  and  it 
figures  as  one  of  the  lesser  mineral  producing  c()unti(>s  of  the  state. 
The  1922  mineral  output  was  valued  at  $157,579  compared  with  $83,550 
in  1921,  the  increase  being  due  to  tile  and  miscellaneous  stone.  Gold, 
j)latinum,  and  silver  were  formerly  obtained  by  dredging,  which  ceased 
in  this  county  in  1918,  though  a  small  yield  from  other  sources  still 
continues.  Undeveloped  deposits  of  antimony,  magnesite,  quicksilver, 
and  limestone  have  been  noted  in  this  county  in  addition  to  the  fore- 


going. 


In  forty-first  place,  commercial  production  during  1922  was  as 
follows : 

Substance  Value 

Stone,    miscellaneous    $88,110 

other  minerals* 69463 

Total  value $157,579 

•Includes  building  tile,  gold,  and  silver. 

MODOC. 

Area:  3,823  scpiare  miles. 

Population:  5,425  (1920  census). 

Location  :  The  extreme  northeast  corner  of  the  state. 

]\Iodoc  County,  like  Lassen,  has  only  in  recent  years  had  the  benefit 
of  communication  with  the  outside  world  by  rail.  Among  its  known 
mineral    resources   are:  Clay,    coal,    gold,    iron,    quicksilver,   salt,   and 


ICyO  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

silver.     In  fifty-second  place,  commercial  production  for  1922  was  as 
follows : 

Substance  Value 

Unapportioned*  $18,018 

•Includes  salt  and  miscellaneous  stone. 


MONO. 

Area :  3,030  square  miles. 

Population:  960  (1920  census). 

Location:  Is  bordered  by  the  State  of  Nevada  on  the  east  and  is 

about  in  the  central  portion  of  the  state  measured  on  a  north 

and  south  line. 

Gold  mining  has  been  carried  on  in  portions  of  Mono  County  for 
many  years,  although  taken  as  a  whole  it  lies  in  a  somewhat  inaccessible 
country  so  far  as  rail  transportation  is  concerned.  It  is  in  the  con- 
tinuation of  the  highly  mineralized  belt  which  was  noted  in  Inyo  County 
and  contains  among  other  mineral  resources  barytes,  clay,  copper,  gold, 
limestone,  molybdenum,  pumice,  salt,  silver,  and  travertine. 

In  forty-sixtli  place,  commercial  production  for  1922  was  as  follows: 

Substance                                                                                                   Amount  Value 

Chopper    4,338  lbs.  $586 

(idld    65,7J7 

Lca'd   - - 9,820  lbs.  540 

Silver   - -  11.686 

Other  minerals* - _ 8,301 

Total  value. $86,803 

*Includes  onyx,  salt,  sillimanite. 

MONTEREY. 

Area:  3,330  square  miles. 

Populatim:  27,980   (1920  census). 

Location  :  West-central  portion  of  state,  bordering  on  Pacific  Ocean. 

Monterey  County  produced  eight  mineral  substances  during  the  year 
1922,  having  a  total  value  of  $255,319,  as  compared  with  the  1921  out- 
put worth  $170,155,  the  increase  being  due  to  coal.  Its  mineral 
resources  include  brick,  clay,  copper,  coal,  dolomite,  feldspar,  fuller's 
earth,  gold,  silver,  gypsum,  infusorial  earth,  limestone,  mineral  water, 
petroleum,  quicksilver,  glass-sand,  sandstone,  silver,  and  miscellaneous 
stone. 

In  thirty-fourth  ]ilace,  commercial  production  for  1922  was  as 
follows : 

Substance  Value 

stone,    miscellaneoust    - $88,180 

Other  minerals* -.- - 169,1.39 

Total  value -- $255,319 

tincludes  molding,  building-,  blast,  filter,  and  roofing  sand. 

•Includes  asbestos,  coal,  dolomite,  quicksilver,  salt,  silica  (glass  sand). 


STATISTICS    OF    ANNIAL    I'KOOUCTION'.  IGl 


NAPA. 

Afcd  :  788  square  miles. 
Population:  20,678  (1920  census). 

Ijocatidu:  Directly  north  of  San  Francisco  15ay — one  of  the  'l)ay 
counties.' 

Napa,  because  of  its  production  of  structural  and  industrial  mate- 
rials and  mineral  water,  stands  thirty-thiril  on  the  list  of  mineral- 
producing  counties  in  California.  Its  mineral  I'csources  include  chro- 
mite,  coj)p('r,  gypsum,  magnesite,  mineral  water,  (juicksilver,  sandstone, 
and  miscellaneous  stone.  In  the  past  this  county  has  been  one  of  the 
important  producers  of  cjuicksilver. 

In  1!)22,  the  value  of  the  output  increased  to  $812,270  over  the  1921 
figure  of  $195,289,  due  mainly  to  miscellaneous  stone. 

Commercial  production  for  1922  was  as  follows: 

Substance                                                                                                    Amount  Value 

Mineral  water  — - - -          80,481  gals.  $54,;i41 

Quicksilver    89  flasks  5,143 

Stone,  miscellaneous  200,151 

OthiT  minerals'  - --  52,635 

Total  value. - - - _ $312,270 

•Includes  building  stone  (red  tuflf)  and  magneslte. 

NEVADA. 

Area  :  974  square  miles. 

Population:  10.860  (1920  census). 

Location  :  North  of  Lake  Tahoe,  on  the  eastern  border  of  the  state. 

Nevada,  one  of  the  mountain  counties  of  California,  for  some  years 
alternated  with  Amador  in  the  gold  lead,  but  both  were  passed  by 
Yuba  in  1918-1921.  In  1922,  Nevada  regained  the  lead.  Nevada 
County  stands  twelfth  on  the  list  in  regard  to  value  of  its  total  mineral 
output,  with  a  figure  of  $2,966,005,  as  compared  with  the  1921  produc- 
tion worth  $2,641,081.     The  increase  is  due  mainly  to  gold. 

While  this  county  actually  produces  mainly  gold  and  silver,  its 
resources  cover  a  wide  scope,  including  antimony,  asbestos,  barytes, 
bismuth,  chromite,  clay,  copper,  gems,  iron,  lead,  mineral  paint,  pyrite, 
soapstone,  and  tungsten. 

Commercial  production  for  1922  was  as  follows: 

Substance  Value 

Gold    - - $2,903,573 

Silver — 19,5S3 

Stone,  miscellaneous  27,982 

Other  minerals* 14,867 

Total  vahi'.> -. — $2,966,005 

*Inelude8  baryte?,  copper,  granite,  lead,  mineral  paint. 


11 — 2S54" 


162  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

ORANGE. 

Area:  795  square  miles. 

Population:  61,375  (1920  census). 

Location:  Southwestern  portion  of  state,  bordering  Pacific  Ocean. 

Orange  County  is  one  of  the  many  in  California  which  on  casual 
inspection  appears  to  be  anything  but  a  mineral-producing  section.  It 
has  stood  for  several  years,  however,  as  the  second  county  in  the  state 
in  regard  to  the  total  value  of  mineral  output,  its  highly  productive  oil 
fields  making  such  a  condition  possible.  It  was  passed  in  1922  by 
Los  Angeles,  the  credit  for  which  is  also  due  to  oil. 

Owing  to  the  lower  prices  for  oil  this  county  shows  a  decrease  in 
1922.  with  a  total  value  of  mineral  products  of  $38,926,087,  compared 
to  the  1921  output,  worth  $47,499,030.  Orange  passed  Shasta  County 
in  1917,  which  previously  for  a  number  of  years  had  exceeded  all  other 
counties  in  California,  except  Kern. 

Aside  from  the  substances  actually  produced  and  noted  in  the  table 
below,  coal,  gypsum,  ii'on.  infusorial  earth,  .sandstone,  and  tourmaline 
have  been  found  in  Orange  County. 

Commercial  production  for  1922  was  as  follows: 

Substance  Amount  Value 

Brick    -            4,706  M.  $73,106 

Natural  gas  25,269,402  M.  cu.  ft.  2,096,829 

Petroleum    31,049,491  bbls.  36,483,162 

Stone,  mLscellaneous  270,022 

Other  minerals*  3,168 

Total  value -     $38,926,087 

"Includes  day  (pottery),  gold,  lead,  silver. 

PLACER. 

Area:  1.395  s(iuare  miles. 

Papulation:  18,584  (1920  census). 

Location  :  Eastern  border  of  state  directly  west  of  Lake  Tahoe. 

AVhile  standing  only  thirtieth  on  the  list  of  mineral-producing 
counties.  Placer  contains  a  wide  variety  of  mineral  substances,  some 
of  which  have  not  been  commercially  exploited.  Its  leading  products 
include  gold,  chromite.  granite,  copper,  and  clay.  Other  mineral 
resources  are :  Asbestos,  brick,  coal,  gems,  iron,  lead,  limestone,  mag- 
nesite,  manganese,  marble,  quartz  crystals,  glass-sand,  silver,  and  mis- 
cellaneous stone. 

Commercial  production  for  1922  was  as  follows,  compared  to  a  total 
value  of  $449.0(0  for  the  preceding  year: 

Substance  Amount  Value 

Brick  and  tile - $118,797 

Clay  (pottery)   79,531  tons  111,166 

Gold    - --- 119,673 

Granite    - - 12.980 

Silica    -- 2,000  tons  5,500 

Silver   Sf'^ 

Stone,  miscellaneous  24,430 

other  minerals*  - — 12,477 

Total  value $405,975 

•Includes  chromite,  mineral  paint,  mineral  water. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANiNUAL    i'HuDUCTION.  163 

PLUMAS. 

Area :  2,594  square  miles. 

Population:  5,681  (1920  census). 

Location :  Northeastern  border  of  state,  south  of  Lassen  County. 

A  considerabU^  portion  of  the  area  of  Plumas  County  lies  in  the  high 
mountains,  and  deposits  of  the  metals,  especially  gold  and  copper,  are 
found  there.  Lack  of  transportation  and  other  facilities  has  retarded 
its  growth,  but  its  future  is  promising.  Mineral  production  for  1922 
was  valued  at  .t^J.-'H 4,4:98,  as  compared  with  the  1921  output,  worth 
$1,798,4()1,  the  increase  being  due  mainly  to  copper,  with  accompanying 
increases  in  gold  and  silver.  This  placed  the  county  ninth  in  rank.  In 
1919  Plunuis  passed  Shasta  in  the  copper  lead,  owing  to  the  Shasta 
smelters  being  closed  down,  which  position  Plumas  still  retains. 

Among  its  mineral  resources  are :  Chromite,  copper,  gold,  granite, 
iron,  lead,  limestone,  manganese,  molybdenum,  platinum,  silver,  and 
zinc. 

Commercial  production  for  1922  was  as  follows: 

Substance                                                                                               Amount  Value 

Copper    — 20,6rr7,77l  lbs.  $2,791, t!)Q 

Gold    223,025 

Silver   — 297,2>4 

other  minerals* 2,720 

Total  value... $3,314,498 

•Includes  granite,  platinum,  miscellaneous  stone. 

RIVERSIDE. 

Area:  7,240  square  miles. 
Population:  60,297  (1920  census). 
Location :  Southern  portion  of  state. 

Riverside  is  the  fourth  county  in  the  state  in  size  and  the  tenth  in 
regard  to  the  total  value  of  mineral  output  for  1922.  Within  its  bor- 
ders are  included  mountain,  desert,  and  agricultural  land.  Its  mineral 
resources  include  metals,  structural  and  industrial  materials,  and 
salines,  some  of  the  more  important  being  brick,  cement,  clay,  coal, 
copper,  feldspar,  gems,  gold,  gypsum,  iron,  lead,  limestone,  manganese, 
magnesite,  marble,  mineral  paint,  mineral  water,  salt,  soapstone,  silver, 
miscellaneous  stone,  and  tin.  In  point  of  variety  Riverside  County 
showed  thirteen  different  minerals  commercially  produced  in  1922. 

The  decrease  in  1922  from  the  1921  value  of  $4,883,989  was  due 
mainly  to  lower  prices  for  cement. 

Commercial  production  for  1922  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                               Amount  Value 

Brick  and  tile.. $535,772 

Clay  (pottery)  — — 81,577  tons  181,897 

Feldspar  — 1,087  tons  7,609 

Granite   30,210 

Mineral  water 58,115  gals.  16,672 

Silica    — 1,877  tons  11,391 

Stone,  miscellaneous  - 400,560 

other   minerals* 2,059,806 

Total  value— _ $3,243,917 

*Iiicludes  cement,  coal,  fluorite  (optical). 


164  MINERAL  Industry  of  c.vlifornia. 

SACRAMENTO. 

Area:  983  square  miles. 
Population:  90,978  (1920  census). 
Location  :  North-central  portion  of  state. 


Sacramento  stands  sixteenth  among  the  counties  of  the  state  as  a 
mineral  producer,  the  output,  principally  j?old,  for  ]922.  l)eing  valued 
at  $2,189,562,  as  compared  with  the  1921  production,  worth  $2,394,894. 
In  regard  to  gold  output  alone,  this  county  ranks  fifth,  being  exceeded 
onl}'  by  Nevada,  Yuba.  Amador  and  Calaveras  counties,  the  Sacra- 
mento product  coming  from  the  dredges.  Its  mineral  resources  include : 
Brick,  clay,  gold,  natural  gas,  platinum,  silver,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Commercial  production  for  1922  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                                                      "  Value 

Brick    and   tile _ $259,203 

Gold   1,350,719 

Granite  — 61,500 

Silver    3,3!)2 

stone,  miscellaneous' 412,667 

Other  minerals*  _  111,991 

Total  value — $2,180,56i> 

'Includes  natural  gas  and  platinum. 

SAN    BENITO. 

Area:  1,392  square  miles. 
Population:  8,995  (1920  census). 
Location :  West-central  portion  of  state. 

Although  nineteenth  among  the  counties  of  the  state  in  regard  to 
value  of  total  mineral  production,  San  Benito  led  for  some  years  in  one 
important  branch  of  the  mineral  industry,  namely,  quicksilver.  In 
spite  of  the  shut-down  of  the  quicksilver  mines  in  1921-1922,  San  Benito 
County  retained  its  position  on  account  of  cement,  which  showed  an 
increased  yield  over  the  1921  figures. 

Its  other  mineral  resources,  many  of  them  undeveloped,  include: 
Antimony,  asbestos,  bituminous  rock,  chromite,  coal,  dolomite,  gems, 
gypsum,  limestone,  magnesite,  mineral  water,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Commercial  production  for  1922  was  as  follows: 

Substance  Amount  Value 

Dolomite    6,650  tons  $30,100 

Stone,  miscellaneous 259,805 

Other   minerals*    1,504,343 

Total  value $1,794,243 

•Includes  asbestos,  cement,  magnesite,  mineral  water,  quicksilver. 


SAN    BERNARDINO. 

Area:  20,157  square  miles. 
Population:  73,401  (1920  census). 
Location  :  Southeastern  portion  of 


portion  of  state. 


San  Bernardino,  by  far  the  largest  county  in  the  state,  in  area,  ranks 
fifth  as  regards  the  value  of  its  mineral  output  for  1922  with  a  total 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL    PRODUCTION.  165 

of  sf;8.r)47.900.  as  compared  with  the  1021  total  of  i|?9,375,540.  The 
decrease  is  due  to  silver  aud  cement. 

San  Bernardino  for  several  years  (except  1918)  has  led  all  other 
counties  in  the  state  in  point  of  variety  of  minerals,  producing  com- 
mercially during  1922  a  total  of  19  different  substances. 

This  county,  cousistiiiir  largely  of  mountain  and  desert  country,  is 
highly  mineralized,  the  following  being  included  among  its  resources: 
Asbestas,  barytes,  borax,  l)rick,  cement,  chiy.  copper,  gems,  gold, 
granit(\  gypsum,  iron.  lead,  limestone,  manganese,  marble,  mineral 
l>aint.  mineral  water,  nitre,  potash,  salt,  .soapstone,  soda,  miscellaneous 
stone,  strontium,  talc,  tungsten,  vanadium,  and  zinc. 

Commercial  production  for  1922  was  as  follows: 

Substance                                                                                               Amount  Value 

Cement   2,770,953  bbls.  $4,1.56,430 

Copper    13,452  lbs.  I.SIG 

tiolrt 125,728 

I-eail   11,188  lbs.  6M 

Limestone   3,200  tons  7,800 

Suit   , 12,222  tons  &4,25!) 

Silver  _ 2,374,918 

other  minerals*  „ 1,826,."04 

Total  value $8,547,900 

•Includes  borates,  calcium  chloride,  fuller's  earth,  gems,  gypsum,  lime,  mineral  water,  potash, 
soda,  talc,  miscellaneous  stone. 

SAN    DIEGO. 

Area:  4,221  square  miles. 
Population:  112,248  (1920  census). 
Location :  Extreme  southwest  corner  of  .state. 

San  Diego  ranks  twenty-sixth  in  the  total  value  of  its  mineral  output, 
and  advanced  to  second  place  in  jxjint  of  variety  with  a  record  of  18 
different  commercial  minerals  for  the  year.  The  value  for  1922  equaled 
$656,807,  as  compared  with  the  1921  output  worth  $501,393.  In  1918, 
for  the  only  time  in  several  years,  there  was  no  production  of  gems,  in 
which  San  Diego  County  has  led  the  state.  Aside  from  minerals  com- 
mercially produced,  as  shown  below,  San  Diego  County  contains  occur- 
rences of  bismuth,  lithia.  marble,  nickel,  soapstone,  and  tin.  Potash 
has  been  produced  from  kelp. 

A  development  of  recent  years  is  the  shipping  of  pebbles  for  grind- 
ing mills. 

Commercial  production  for  1922  was  as  follows: 


Substance                                                                                               Amount  Value 

("lay  and  clay  products - $93,045 

Feldspar  3,500  tons  29,500 

Gems -.  400 

Granite   35,673 

Mineral  water 71,781  gals.  9,262 

Stone,  miscellaneous  355,810 

other  minerals*  133,117 

Total  value - $656,807 

*rnclndps  fuller's  earth,  gold,  lithia,  magnesium  salts,  marble,  salt,  silica,  silver. 


166  MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF   CALIFORNIA. 

SAN   FRANCISCO. 

Area:  43  square  miles. 
Poindation:  506,676  (1920  census). 

Surprising:  as  it  may  appear  at  first  glance.  San  Francisco  County 
is  listed  among  the  mineral  producing  sections  of  the  state,  actual 
production  consisting  mainly  of  crushed  rock,  sand  and  gravel.  Small 
(piantities  of  various  valuable  mineral  substances  are  found  here, 
inclnding  cinnabar,  gypsnm.  lianite.  and  magnesite.  none,  however,  in 
jiaying  (juantities.     Some  pumice  has  been  produced. 

In  forty-eighth  place,  commercial  production  for  1922  was  as  follows: 

Substance  Value 

Unapportioned* $65,409 

•Includes  pumice  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

SAN   JOAQUIN. 

Area:  1.448  square  miles. 
Population:  79,905   (1920  census). 
Location :  Central  portion  of  state. 

San  Joaquin  County  reported  a  mineral  production  for  the  year  1922 
having  a  total  value  of  $473,395.  as  compared  with  the  1921  output, 
worth  $474,378. 

Comparatively  few  mineral  substances  are  found  here,  the  chief  ones 
being  brick,  clay,  manganese,  natural  gas,  glass-sand,  and  miscellaneous 
stone.  Gold,  platinum,  and  silver  have  been  obtained  by  dredging  in 
the  Mokelumne  River,  which  forms  the  boundary  between  this  county 
and  Amador  on  the  northeast. 

In  twenty-eighth  place,  commercial  production  for  1922  was  as 
follows : 

Substance  Amount  Value 

Brick  and  clay — - $314,269 

Natural  gas  199,389  M.  cu.  ft.  62,4o4 

Other  minerals*  96,672 

Total  value — ^73.395 

•Includes  manganese  ore  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

SAN   LUIS  OBISPO. 

Area :  3.334  square  miles. 
Pojnilation:  21,893  (1920  census). 

Location  :  Bordered  by  Kern  County  on  the  east  and  the  Pacific 
Ocean  on  the  west. 

The  total  value  of  the  mineral  production  of  San  Luis  Obispo  County 
in  1922  was  $141,470,  as  compared  with  the  1921  output,  worth  $129,791, 
the  increase  being  due  to  miscellaneous  stone.  Among  its  mineral 
resources,  both  developed  and  undeveloped,  are :  Asphalt,  bituminous 
rock,  brick,  chromite,  coal,  copper,  gypsum,  infu.sorial  earth,  iron, 
limestone,  marble,  mineral  water,  onyx,  petroleum,  quicksilver,  soda, 
and  miscellaneous  stone. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION.  167 

In  forty-second  place,  commercial  production  for  1922  was  as 
follows : 

Substance                                                                                               Amount  Value 

Petroleum    - 33,856  bbls.  $3:,SQ2 

Stone,  miscellaneous  107,000 

Other  minerals* .:.  2,578 

Total  value .- $141,470 

•Includes  chromlte,  diatomaceous  earth,  mineral  water. 

SAN    MATEO. 

Area:  447  square  miles. 

Population:  36,781  (1020  census). 

Location:  Peninsula,  adjoined  by  San  Francisco  on  the  north. 

San  Mateo's  most  important  mineral  products  are  stone  and  salt,  the 
last-named  being  derived  l)y  evaporation  from  the  waters  of  San  Fran- 
cisco Bay.  The  total  value  of  all  mineral  production  during^  1922 
equaled  $24,3,984,  as  compared  with  the  1921  figures  of  $257,092,  the 
decrease  being  due  to  salt. 

Small  amounts  of  barytes,  chromite,  infusorial  earth,  and  quicksilver 
have  been  noted  in  addition  to  the  items  of  economic  value  given  below. 

Bricks  have  also  been  produced  commercially. 

In  thirty-fifth  place,  commercial  production  for  1922  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                               Amount  Value 

Salt -. 32,428  tons  $149,302 

Stone,  miscellaneous - 60,009 

Other  minerals* 34,9»4 

Total  value $^43,984 

•Includes  magnesium  salts,  petroleum,  potash. 

SANTA   BARBARA. 

Area:  2,740  square  miles. 
Population:  41,097  (1920  census). 

Location :  South-Avestern  portion  of  state,  joining  San  Luis  Obispo 
on  the  south. 

Santa  Barbara  County  owes  its  position  of  seventh  in  the  state  in 
regard  to  its  mineral  output  to  the  presence  of  productive  oil  fields 
within  its  boundaries.  The  total  value  of  its  mineral  production  during 
the  year  1922  was  $4,613,358,  as  compared  with  the  1921  output  of 
$10,190,929,  the  decrease  being  due  to  lower  petroleum  prices. 

Aside  from  the  mineral  substances  listed  below,  Santa  Barbara 
County  contains  asphalt,  diatomaceous  earth,  gilsonite.  gypsum,  mag- 
nesite,  and  quicksilver  in  more  or  less  abundance. 

Commercial  production  for  1922  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                               Amount  Value 

Mineral  water  _— - - 110,552  gals.  $52,269 

Natural    gas    - — 1,876,900  M.  cu.  ft.  167,2:50 

Petroleum    -- - 3,931,155  bbls.  3,974,393 

Stone,  miscellaneous  -- 72,300 

Other  minerals*  — 347,101 

Total  value — $4,613,358 

•Includes  bituminous  rock,  brick,  diatomaceous  earth,  potash,  sandstone,  shale  oi]. 


168  MINERAL    IXDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

SANTA  CLARA. 

Ana:  1,328  square  miles. 
Population:  100.588  (1920  census). 
Location:  West-central  portion  of  state. 

Santa  Clara  County  reported  a  mineral  output  for  1922  of  $894,036, 
as  compared  Avitli  the  1921  figures  of  .$750,708.  the  increase  being  due 
to  brick,  magnesite,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

This  county,  lying  largely  in  the  Coast  Range  Mountains,  contains 
a  wide  variety  of  mineral  substances,  including  brick,  chromite,  clay, 
limestone,  magnesite,  manganese,  mineral  water,  petroleum,  (piicksilver, 
soapstone,  and  miscellaneous  stone.  It  led  in  quicksilver  yield  for 
the  year. 

In  twenty-thh-d  place,  commercial  production  for  1922  was  as 
follows : 

Substance  Amount  Value 

Brick    , 11,409  M.  $150,057 

Clay  (pottery)   - 3,836  tons  7,372 

Magnesite    — -           28,650  tons  301,87a 

Mineral  water  3,500  gals.  325 

Stone,  miscellaneous  235,125 

Other  minerals*  —  199.282 

Total  value ?S91,036 

♦Includes  limestone  marl,  petroleum,  quicksilver. 

SANTA   CRUZ. 

Area:  435  square  miles. 
Fopulation:  26.269  (1920  census). 

Location :  Bordering    Pacific    Ocean,    just    south    of    San   Mateo 
County. 

The  mineral  output  of  Santa  Cruz  County,  a  portion  of  which  is 
itemized  below,  amounted  to  a  total  value  of  $3,608,805,  giving  the 
county  a  standing  of  eighth  among  all  others  in  the  state  in  this  regard. 

The  decrease  from  the  1921  figure  of  $4,080,885,  is  due  mainly  to 
lower  cement  prices  during  the  year. 

The  commercial  production  for  1922  was  as  follows : 

Substance  Amount  Value 

Lime 174,490  bbls.  $235,SC2 

Limestone    4,681  tons  20,534 

Stone,  miscellaneous-  7,39S 

Other  minerals*  — — -- - 3,345,071 

Total  value $3,608,805 

•Includes  bituminous  rock,  cement,  potash. 

SHASTA. 

Area:  3,858  square  miles. 
Population:  13,311   (1920  census). 
Location  :  Xorth-central  portion  of  state. 

Shasta  County  stood  twenty-first  in  California  among  the  mineral 
producing  counties  for  1922,  with  an  output  valued  at  $1,513,591.  as 
compared  with  the  1921  production  worth  $841,062,  \he  increase  being 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL   PRODl'CTION.  169 

due  to  copper,  gold,  and  zine.  Tlio  marked  decrease  in  1918-1921  was 
due  to  the  falling  off  in  the  outi>ut  of  copper,  the  large  plants  of  the 
Mammoth  and  ]Moiintain  copper  companies  being  shut  down.  Not  tak- 
ing petroleum  into  account,  Shasta  for  a  number  of  years  led  all  of  the 
counties  ])y  a  wide  margin;  but  in  1919-1921  was  passed  by  San  Ber- 
nardino, Inyo,  Yul)a,  Phnnas,  Amador,  Nevada,  and  Sacramento,  among 
the  'metal'  counties. 

Shasta's  mineral  resources  include:  Asbestos,  barytes.  brick,  chromite, 
coal,  copper,  ^old.  iron,  lead,  linu^,  limestone,  mineral  water,  molyb- 
deiuim,  pyrite,  silver,  soapstone,  miscellaneous  stone,  and  zinc. 

Lassen  Peak  is  located  in  southeastern  Shasta  County. 

Commercial  production  for  1922  was  as  follows : 

Substance  Amount  Value 

Copper    - - 1,827,875  lbs.  $246,763 

Gold 393,034 

I'latinuni   - 496  fine  oz.  57,4.j8 

Silver   —  26,i)01 

Stone,  niiFcellaneous  : fi5,5'25 

Other  niinpral.s* —  723,910 


Total  value ._ — - $1,513,591 

•Includes  asbestos,  liarytes,  iron  ore,  lead,  pyrites,  zinc. 

SIERRA. 

Area :  923  square  miles. 

Population:  1,783  (1920  census). 

Location :  Eastern  l)order  of  state,  just  north  of  Nevada  County. 

Sierra  County  reported  a  mineral  production  of  $1,770,626  mainly 
of  gold  and  silver,  during  the  year  1922.  as  compared  with  the  1921 
output,  worth  $620,361.  the  increase  being  due  to  gold.  Considering 
gold  output  alone  this  county  stands  fourth,  having  passed  Calaveras 
and  Sacramento ;  and  as  to  total  mineral  yield,  twentieth. 

Aside  from  the  metals  itemized  below.  Sierra  County  contains  deposits 
of  asbestos,  chromite.  copper,  iron,  lead,  platinum,  serpentine,  and  talc. 

Commercial  production  for  1922  was  as  follows: 

Substance  Value 

Gold  - $1,75.'J.242 

Silver  - 14,484 

Stone,  rais^ccllaneous . 2,900 

Total  value.. $1,770,626 

SISKIYOU. 

Area:  6,256  square  miles. 
Population:  18.545   (1920  census). 

Location:  Extreme  north-central  portion  of  state,  next  to  Oregon 
boundary. 

Siskiyou,  fifth  county  in  California  in  regard  to  size,  located  in  a 
highly  mineralized  and  mountainous  country,  ranks  forty-fourth  in 
regard  to  the  value  of  its  mineral  output  for  1922.  The  increase  in 
1922  was  due  mainly  to  gold. 

Although  the  county  is  traversed  l)y  a  transcontinental  railroad  in  a 
north  and  south  line,  the  mineral-bearing  sections  are  almost  without 


170  MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

exception  far  from  transportation  and  other  facilities.  A  large  part 
of  the  county  is  accessible  by  trail  only.  Future  development  and 
exploitation  will  increase  the  productiveness  of  this  part  of  the  state 
to  a  considerable  degree. 

Mount  Shasta  is  located  in  Siskiyou  County. 

Among  SiskiA'Ou's  mineral  resources  are:  Chromite,  clay,  coal,  cop- 
per, gems,  gold,  lead,  limestone,  manganese,  marble,  mineral  water, 
pumice,  quicksilver,  sandstone,  silver,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Commercial  production  for  1922  was  as  follows : 

Substance  Value 

Gold  yrs.ioa 

Silver  612 

Stone,  miscellaneous — 21,726 

Other  minerals* 4,020 

Total  value $101,463 

'Includes  limestone  and  mineral  water. 


SOLANO. 

Area :  822  square  miles. 

Population  :  40,602  (1920  census). 

Location :  Touching  San  Francisco  Bay  on  the  northeast. 

Solano,  while  mostly  valley  land,  produced  mineral  substances  during 
the  year  1922  to  the  total  value  of  $3,108,114,  ranking  eleventh  among 
the  counties  of  the  state,  the  increase  over  the  1921  figures  of  $3,030,198 
being  flue  to  cement.  Among  her  mineral  resources  are :  Brick,  cement, 
clay,  fuller's  earth,  limestone,  mineral  water,  natural  gas,  onyx,  quick- 
silver, salt,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Commercial  production  for  1922  was  as  follows: 

Substance  Value 

Stone,    miscellaneous  - $103,394 

Other  minerals* - —       3,004,720 

Total  value - $3,108,114 

'Includes  cement,  mineral  wat<r,  onyx. 


SONOMA. 

Area:  1,577  square  miles. 
Population:  51,990  (1920  censnsV 

Location  :     South  of  Mendocino  County,  bordering  on  the  Pacific 
Ocean. 

Sonoma  ranked  thirty-seventh  among  the  counties  of  California 
during  the  year  1922,  with  a  mineral  production  of  $221,941,  as  com- 
pared with  its  1921  output  worth  $175,551.  ]\Iore  paving  blocks  have 
been  turned  out  here  than  in  any  other  section  of  the  state,  but  this 
industry  has  now  practically  ceased,  owing  to  the  construction  of 
smooth-surface  pavements  both  in  the  cities  and  on  the  highways. 

Among  Sonoma's  mineral  resources  are:  Brick,  chromite,  clay,  cop- 
per, graphite,  infusorial  earth,  magnesite,  manganese,  marble,  mineral 
paint,    mineral  Avater,  quicksilver,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  171 

Commercial  production  for  1022  was  as  folh)\vs:    .     . 

Substance                                                                                               ^butit  '  Value 

Mineral  water - 35;843-gals.  $9,108 

Stone,  miscellaneous  162,679 

Otlier  minerals* - 50,154 

Total  value - - - - $221,911 

•Includes  clay  (pottery),  gems,  quicksilver. 

STANISLAUS. 

Area:  1,450  square  iiiiles. 

Population:  -13,557  (1920  census). 

Location:  Center  of  state,  bounded  on  south  by^Ierced  County. 

Cold  has  usually  been  the  eliief  mineral  product  of  Stanislaus  County, 
but  it  was  exceeded  in  1918-1919  l)y  manganese,  and  in  1921-1922  by 
miscellaneous  stone.  Brick,  clay,  gypsum,  mineral  paint,  quicksilver, 
and  silver  are  f(Mind  liere  to  some  extent  as  well.  Tliis  county  for  1922 
ranks  twenty-ninth  in  the  state  in  regard  to  vahie  of  minerals,  with  an 
output  of  $452.1(i7,  as  compared  with  .$236,207  in  1921,  the  increase 
being  due  to  gold  and  miscellaneous  stone.  Gold,  platinum,  and  silver 
are  obtained  by  dredging. 

Commercial  production  for  1922  was  as  follows : 

Substance  Amount  Value 

Magnesite - 2,400  tons  $35,475 

Stone,  miscellaneous  - — - 299,962 

Other  minerals*  -.. -- 116,7&0 

Total  value - - $452,167 

•Includes  gold,  manganese  ore,  mineral  paint,  platinum,  silver. 

SUTTER. 

Area:  608  square  miles. 
Population:  10,115  (1920  census). 

Location:  Rounded  1»y  Butte  County  on  tlie  north  and  Sacramento 
on  the  south. 

Sutter  is  one  of  only  two  counties  in  the  state  which  for  a  number  of 
years  reported  no  commercial  output  of  some  kind  of  mineral  substance. 
In  1917  some  crushed  rock  was  taken  out,  from  the  ^larysville  Buttes, 
but  there  was  no  production  in  1918,  nor  1919.  There  has  been  some 
utilization  of  natural  gas.  The  1922  mineral  yield  was  valued  at  $97, 
l)eing  concealed  under  'unappoi-tioned.'  Both  coal  and  clay  exist  here, 
but  deposits  of  neither  mineral  have  been  placed  on  a  productive  ba.sis. 

TEHAMA. 

Area:  2,893  square  miles. 
Population:  12,882  (1920  census). 

Location  :  North-central  portion  of  the  .state,  l)ounded  on  the  north 
by  Shasta. 

Tehama  stands  fifty-fourth  among  the  mineral  producing  counties  of 
the  state  for  1922,  when  its  output  was  valued  at  $9,388,  as  compared 
.  with  the  1921  yield  worth  $30,820. 


172  J^INERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 

Among  itN  miliPi'ftl  resources  are  listed :  Brick,  ehromite,  copper,  gold, 
]nangan{.^jje,  juarble,  mineral  water,  sajt,  and  niis(!ellaneous  stone. 
The  l'^^3  yiei4  was  distributed  as  follows : 

Substaiicfl  Value 

UiiapportlQHp()«  - -. $9,388 

*Iuclu(jes  \ir\c\(  uPd  niiscellpneous  stone. 


TRINITY. 

Area'-  3,166  square  miles. 
Population  \  2,551  (1920  census). 
Location  -.  Northwestern  portion  of  state. 

Trinity,  like  its  neighbor,  Siskiyou  County,  re(iuires  transportation 
facilities  to  further  the  development  of  its  many  and  varied  mineral 
resources.  Deposits  of  asbestois,  barytes,  ehromite,  copper,  gold,  mineral 
water,  jiliitinum,  (juieksilvcr,  silver,  and  building  stone  ai-e  known  here, 
but  with  tlU'  exception  of  gold,  ehromite,  ct)pper,  (piieksilver,  and  plati- 
inim,  very  Jittle  active  production  of  these  mineral  substances  has  been 
made  as  ypt-  The  1922  output  of  $197,987  «hows  a  decrease  from  the 
]921  figurp  of  $456,882.  due  to  gold : 

Subatanw                                                                                              Amount  Value 

Gold    - - - ?182,913 

Platinum    .— 12  fine  oz.  1,223 

Silver   2,432 

Stone,  miscellaneous  5,677 

Other  minerals  5,687 

Total   viiliiP $197,937 


TULARE. 

Area:  4,856  square  miles. 
Population:  59,031   (1920  census). 

Location :    Bounded  by  Inyo  on  the  east,  Kern  on  the  south,  Fresno 
on  the  north. 

Tulare  stands  thirty-second  on  the  list  of  mineral-producing  counties, 
the  decrease  from  the  1920  value  lieing  due  mainly  to  miscellaneous 
stone.  This  county's  mineral  resources,  among  others,  are:  Brick,  clay, 
copper,  feldspar,  graphite,  gems,  limestone,  magnesite,  marble,  quartz, 
glass-sand,  soapstone,  miscellaneous  stone,  and  zinc.  Tulare  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  led  the  state  in  magnesite  output,  except  in  1918  when  it 
was  passed  by  Napa  County,  and  in  1921-1922  by  Santa  Clara. 

Commercial  production  for  1922  was  as  follows: 

Substance                                                                                              Amount  Value 

Magnesite    .-, - 17,223  tonsi  $181,842 

Natural    gas    380M.  cu.  ft.  190 

Stone,  miscffllflneous  151 

Otlier  iiiiiii'rals*  —  189,6(52 

Total  value $371,81.', 

*Iiiflucles  luick  and  t'le,  granite,  limestone. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL    PHODUCTlON. 


1 


t.i 


TUOLUMNE. 

Area:  2.190  sciuare  miU's. 

Population:  7.768   (1!)2()  census). 

Locatum  :  ?jast-eentral  portion  of  state — ^fothcr  Lode  District. 

Tuoluiiiiic  i-auks  tweiity-lit'tli  ainonir  counties  of  the  state  relative  to 
its  total  value  of  niiueral  output  for  li)22.  This  county  rauks  first  as  a 
produeei-  of  marble  \\\  the  state.  Tlu'  increase  in  the  year's  valuation 
to  .t7()4.!):}S  for  1!)22,  over  the  11)21  figure  of  $554,4S:i  was  due  to  gold 
and  to  large  amounts  of  crushed  rock,  sand  and  gravel  being  used  on  the 
lletch  Iletchy  project  of  the  city  of  San  Francisco. 

Chromite.  clay,  copper,  gold,  lead,  limestone,  marble,  mineral  paint, 
j)Iatinum.  soapstone,  silver,  and  miscellaneous  stone  are  among  its 
mineral  re.sourees. 

Commercial  production  foi-  1922  was  as  follows: 

Substance  Value 

Gold  _ - - —  $222,360 

Silver  — 2,976 

stone,  miscellaneous  246,400 

Other  minerals* 29.3,1.36 

Total  value - ---         $764,9.33 

•Includes  dolomite,  granite,  lime,  magnesite,  marble. 

VENTURA. 

Area:  1,878  square  miles. 
Population:  28,724  (1920  census). 

Location:  Southwestern    portion    of    state,    bordering    on    Pacific 
Ocean. 

Ventura  is  the  sixth  county  in  the  state  in  respect  to  the  value  of 
its  mineral  i)roduction  for  1922,  the  exact  figure  being  .^."3.837,078,  as 
compared  with  the  output  for  1921,  worth  $6,245,269,  the  decrease 
being  due  to  lower  petroleum  prices. 

The  highest  gravity  petroleum  produced  in  the  state  is  found  here. 

Among  its  other  minei'al  resources  are:  Asphalt,  borax,  brick,  clay, 
mineral  water,  natural  gas,  sandstone,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Commercial  production  for  1922  was  as  follows: 

Substance                                                                                               Amount  Value 

Natural    gas    - 3,583,818  M.  cu.  ft.  $536,502 

Petroleum    2,933,035  bbls.  5,236,628 

Stone,  miscellaneous 62,8S8 

Other  minerals* - 1.060 

Total  value - -- -- $5,837,078 

•Includes  mineral  paint  and  sandstone. 

YOLO. 

Area:  1.014  square  miles. 
Population:  17,105   (1920  census). 

Location:  Sacramento  Valley.  ])ounded  l)y  Sutter  on  the  east  and 
Colusa  on  the  north. 

The  mineral  production  from  Yolo  County  during  the  year  1922 
consisted  mainly  of  miscellaneous  stone,  valued  at  $13,431,  ranking  it 


174  MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

in  fifty-third  place.  Deposits  of  undetermined  value  of  iron  and  sand- 
stone have  been  discovered  within  the  confines  of  this  county.  Quick- 
silver has  also  been  produced. 

YUBA. 

Area:  639  square  miles. 
Population:  10,875  (1920  census). 

Location:    Lies    west    of    Sierra    and    Nevada   counties;    south    of 
Plumas. 

Yuba  is  thirteenth  of  the  mineral-producing  counties  of  the  state,  and 
second  in  regard  to  gold  output  for  1922.  losing  its  lead  of  three  years 
to  Nevada  County  in  that  metal.  Iron  and  clay  deposits  have  been 
reported  in  this  county  aside  from  the  following  commercial  production 
shown  for  the  year  192'2.  The  decrease  from  the  1921  figure  of  $4,852,- 
266  was  due  to  gold  obtaiiu»d  by  the  dredgers,  which  also  yield  silver 
and  platinum.    The  1921  dredge  yield  was  a  record  for  the  county. 

The  1922  production  of  Yu1)a  County  was  distributed  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                                   Amouat  Value 

Gold    $2,492,9t8 

Platinum   115  fine  oz.  11,077 

Silver   — 8,222 

Stone,  miscellaneous  75,909 

Other  minerals  — 100 

Total  value —      $2,588,316 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  175 


PUBLICATIONS  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA  STATE 
MINING  BUREAU. 

During  the  past  forty-two  years,  in  carrying  out  the  provisions  of 
the  organic  act  creating  the  California  State  iMining  Bureau,  there 
have  been  pulilislied  many  reports,  bulletins  and  maps  which  go  to 
make  up  a  library  of  detailed  information  on  the  mineral  industry  of 
the  state,  a  large  part  of  which  could  not  be  duplicated  from  any  other 
source. 

One  feature  that  has  addcnl  to  the  popularity  of  the  pulilications  is 
that  many  of  them  have  been  distributed  without  cost  to  the  public,  and 
even  the  more  elaborate  ones  have  been  sold  at  a  price  which  barely 
covers  the  cost  of  printing. 

Owing  to  the  fact  that  funds  for  the  advancing  of  the  work  of  this 
department  have  often  been  limited,  many  of  the  reports  and  bulletins 
mentioned  were  printed  in  limited  editions  which  are  now  entirely 
exhausted. 

Copies  of  such  publicatious  are  available,  however,  in  the  Bureau's 
offices  in  the  Ferry  Building,  San  Francisco;  Pacific  Finance  Building, 
Los  Angeles;  in  Santa  ^laria :  Santa  Paula;  Coalinga ;  Taft;  Bakers- 
field;  Auburu,  and  Redding.  They  may  also  be  found  in  many  public, 
private  and  tecluiical  libi-aries  in  (Uilifornia  and  other  states,  and 
foreign  countries. 

A  catalog  of  all  publications  of  the  Bureau,  from  1880  to  1917,  giving 
a  synopsis  of  their  contents,  is  issued  as  Bulletin  No.  77. 

Publications  in  stock  may  be  ol)tained  by  addressing  any  of  the  offices 
•of  the  State  Mining  Bureau  and  enclosing  the  requisite  amount  in  the 
case  of  publications  that  have  a  list  price.  The  Bureau  is  authorized 
to  receive  only  coin,  stamps  or  money  orders,  and  it  will  be  appreciated 
if  remittance  is  made  in  this  manner  rather  than  by  personal  check. 

The  prices  noted  include  delivery  charges  to  all  parts  of  the  United 
States.  ]\Ioney  orders  should  be  made  payable  to  the  State  Mining 
Bureau. 


176  MINEk.VL    INDL'STRV    OF    (JALIKURXIA. 

REPORTS. 

Asterisks  (*•)  indicate  the  publication  is  out  of  print. 

Price 

**First  Annual  Report  of  the  State  Mineralogist,  1880,  43  pp.     Henry  G. 

Hanks 

**Second  Annual  Report  of  the  State  Mineralogist,  1882,  514  pp.,  4  illustra- 
tions, 1  map.     Henry  G.  Hanks 

**Third  Annual  Report  of  the  State  Mineralogist,  1883,  111  pp.,  21  illustra- 
tions.     Henry    G.   Hanks 

♦♦Fourth  Annual  Report  of  the  State  Mineralogist,  1884,  410  pp.,  1  illustra- 
tions.    Henry   G.   Hanks 

♦♦Fifth  Annual  Report  of  the  State  Mineralogist,  1885,  234  pp.,  15  illustra- 
tions, 1  geological  map.     Henry  G.  Hanks 

♦♦Sixth  Annual   Report  of  the  State  Mineralogist,  Part  I,  1886,  145  pp.,  3 

illustrations,  1  map.     By  Henry  G.  Hanks 

**Part  n,  1887,  222  pp.,  36  illustrations.     William.  Irelan,  Jr 

♦♦Seventh  Annual  Report  of  the  State  Mineralogist,  1887,  315  pp.     William 

Irelan,  Jr.  

♦♦Eighth  Annual  Report  of  the  State  Mineralogist,  1888,  ^8  pp.,  122  illustra- 
tions.    William   Irelan,  Jr 

♦♦Ninth  Annual  Report  of  the  State  Mineralogist,  1889,  352  pp.,  57  illustra- 
tions, 2  maps.     William   Irelan.   Jr 

♦♦Tenth  Annual  Report  of  the  State  Mineralogist,  1890,  983  pp.,  179  illustra- 
tions, 10  maps.     William  Irelan,  Jr 

Eleventh  Report  (First  Biennial)  of  the  State  Mineralogist,  for  the  two 
years  ending  September  15,  1892,  612  pp.,  73  illustrations,  4  maps. 
William  Irelan,  Jr $1.00 

♦♦Twelfth  Report  (Second  Biennial)  of  the  State  Mineralogist,  for  the  two 
years  ending  September  15,  1894,  541  pp.,  101  illustrations,  5  maps. 
J.  J.  Crawford 

♦♦Thirteenth  Report  (Third  Biennial)  of  the  State  Mineralogist,  for  the  two 
years  ending  September  15,  1896,  726  pp.,  93  illustrations,  1  map. 
J.  J.  Crawford 

Chapters  of  the  State  Mineralogist's  Report,  Biennial  Period,  1913-1914, 
Fletcher  Hamilton : 

♦♦Mines  and  Mineral  Resources,  Amador,  Calaveras  and  Tuolumne  Counties, 

172   pp.,   paper ^ 

Mines  and  Mineral  Resources,  Colusa,  Glenn,  Lake,  Marin,  Napa,  Solano, 

Sonoma  and  Yolo  Counties,  208  pp.,  paper ..50 

Mines    and    Mineral    Resources,    Del    Norte,    Humboldt,    and    Mendocino 

Counties,  59  pp.,  paper .25 

Mines   and   Mineral    Resources,   Fresno,    Kern.    Kings.    Madera,    Mariposa, 

Merced,  San  .Joaquin  and  Stanislaus  Counties,  220  pp..  paper .50 

Mines    and    Mineral    Resources    of    Imperial    and     San    Diego    Counties, 

113   pp.,   paper .35 

♦♦Mines    and    Mineral    Resources,    Shasta,    Siskiyou    and    Trinity    Counties, 

180   pp.,   paper 

Fourteenth  Report  of  the  State  Mineralogist,  for  the  Biennial  Period  1913- 
1914,  Fletcher  Hamilton,  1915: 
A  General  Report  on  the  Mines  and  Mineral  Resources  of  Amador,  Cala- 
veras, Tuolumne,  Colusa.  Glenn,  Lake,  Marin,  Napa,  Solano,  Sonoma, 
Yolo,  Del  Norte,  Humboldt,  Mendocino,  Fresno,  Kern.  Kings,  Madera, 
Mariposa,  Merced,  San  Joaquin,  Stanislaus,  San  Diego.  Imperial, 
Shasta,  Siskivou,  and  Trinity  Counties,  974  pp.,  275  illustrations, 
cloth 2.00 

Chapters   of   the    State    Mineralogist's    Report,    Biennial    Period,    1915-1916, 
Fletcher  Hamilton  : 
Mines  and  Mineral   Resources,   Alpine,  Inyo  and  Mono  Counties,  176  pp., 

paper    •''S 

Same,  including  geological  map  of  Inyo  County 1.25 

Mines  and  Mineral  Resources,  Butte,  Lassen.  Modoc,  Sutter,  and  Tehama 

Counties,   91  pp.,   paper .50 

Mines  and  Mineral   Resources,   El   Dorado,  Placer,   Sacramento,  and  Yuba 

Counties,  198  pp.,   paper .65 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNTAl,    I'HODUCTlON.  177 

REPORTS— Continued. 

Asterisks  (**)  indicate  the  publication  is  out  of  print. 

Price 

.Mines  and  ^lineral  Resources,  JjOS  Angeles,  Orange,  and  Riverside  Counties, 

130  pp.,  papor $0.50 

Mines   and   Mineral   Resources,   Monterey,   San   Benito,    San   Luis   Obispo, 

Santa  Barbara,  and  Ventura  Counties,  183  pp.,  paper .Go 

Mines  and  Mineral  Resources,  San  Bernardino  and  Tulare  Counties,  186  pp., 

paper -"'^ 

Fifteenth  Report  of  the  State  Mineralogist,  for  the  Biennial  Period  1915- 
IDIC,  Fletcher  Hamilton.  1917: 
A  general  Report  ou  the  Mines  and  ]Mincral  Resources  of  Alpine,  Inyo, 
Mono,  Butte,  Lassen,  Modoc,  Sutter,  Tehama,  Placer,  Sacramento, 
Yuba,  Los  Angeles,  Orange,  Riverside,  San  Benito,  San  Luis  Obispo, 
Santa  Barbara,  \'entura,  San  Bernardino  and  Tulare  Counties,  990  pp., 

413  illustrations,  cloth 3.75 

Chapters    of    the    State    Mineralogist's    Report,    Biennial    Period    1917-1918, 
Fletcher  Hamilton: 

Mines  and  Mineral  Resources  of  Nevada  County,  270  pp.,  paper .75 

Mines  and  Mineral  Resources  of  Plum;i.s  County,  188  pp.,  paper ..50 

Mines  and  Mineral  Resources  of  Sierra  County.  144  pp.,  paper .50 

Seventeenth   Report   of   the   State   Mineralogist,   1920.    Mining   in   California 

During  1920,  Fletcher  Hamilton  ;  562  pp.,  71  illustrations,  cloth 1.75 

Eighleonth    Report   of   the    State   Mineralogist,   1922,    Mining   in   California, 
Fletcher  Hamilton.     Chapters   published  monthly  beginning  with   Jan- 
uary, 1922  : 
**January,  **February,  March,  April,  May,  June,  July,  August,  September, 

October,  November,  December,  1922 Free 

Nineteenth  Report  of  the  State  Mineralogist,  Mining  in  California.  Fletcher 

H;imiltou  iUid   Lloyd  h.   Ui>i>t.  January.  February.  .March.   S('i)l(Mnber__      Fri-e 
Chapters  of  State  Oil  and  Gas  Supervisor's  Report : 

Summary  of  Operations — California  Oil  Fields,  July,  1918,  to  March,  1919 

(one  volume)    Free 

Summary   of   Operations — California  Oil   Fields.      Published   monthly,   begin- 
ning April,  1919  : 
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October,   November,  December,  1920 Free 

Januarv.     **F('bniary,     **March.     **April.    May.    June.     **July.     August. 

♦♦September,  *»6ctober,  **November,  **December,  1921 Free 

January,    February,    March,   April,    May,   June,    July,   August,   September, 

October,  November,   December,  1922 Free 

Jaunarv,  February.   **March.  April,  May,  June,  July.  August,   September. 

11123    -- Free 

BULLETINS. 

Asterisks    (•*)    Indicate   the   publication    Is   out  of   print. 

Price 
**Bulletin  No.  1.     A   Description   of   Some   Desiccated  Human   Remiains,   by 

Winslow  Anderson.     1888,  41  pp.,  6  illustrations 

**Bulletin  No.  2.     Methods   of  Mine   Timbering,    by    W.    H.   Storms.     1894, 

58  pp.,  75  illustrations 

**Bulletin  No.  3.     Cas  and  I'etroleum  Yielding  Formations  of  Central  Valley 

of  California,  by  W.  L.  Watts.     1S94,  100  pp.,  13  illustrations.  4  maps.     

♦♦Bulletin  No.  4.     Catalogue  of  Californian   Fossils,  by  J.  G.  Cooper,  1894, 

73  pp.,  (57  illustrations.     (Part  I  was  published  in  the  Seventh  Annual 

Report  of  the  State  Mineralogist,  1887.) 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  5.     The  Cyanide  Process,  1894,  by  Dr.  A.  Scheidel.     140  pp., 

40  illustrations 


-2S547 


178  MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

BULLETINS— Continued. 

Asterisks  (**)  indicate  the  publication  is  out  of  print. 

Price 
Bulletin  No.  G.     California   Gold  Mill  Practices,   1S95,   by   E.   B.   Preston, 

85  pp.,  40  illustrations $0.50 

**Bulletin  No.  7.     Mineral    Production    of    California,    by    Counties   for    the 

year  1S94,  by  Charles  G.  Yale.     Tabulated  sheet 

**Bulletin  No.  S.     Mineral    Production    of    California,    by    Counties    for   the 

year  1S95,  by  Charles  G.  Yale.     Tabulated  sheet 

**Bulletin    No.   9.     Mine   Drainage,   Pumps,   etc.,   by   Hans  C.   Behr.     1S9G. 

210  pp.,  20G  illustrations 

**Bulletin  No.  10.     A  bibliography  Relating  to  the  Geology,  Paltentology  and 

Mineral  Resources  of  California,  by  Anthony  W.  Vogdes.    1S96,  121  pp.     

**Bulletin  No.  11.     Oil  and  Gas  Yielding  Formations  of  Los  Angeles,  Ventura 

and  Santa  Barbara  counties,  by  W.  L.  Watts.     1897,  94  pp.,  6  maps, 

i!l   illustrations 

**BulIetin  No.  12.     Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties  for  189G, 

by  Charles  G.  Yale.     Tabulated  sheet 

**Bulletin  No.  13.     Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties  for  1897, 

by  Charles  G.  Yale.     Tabulated  sheet 

**Bulletin  No.  14.     Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties  for  1S9S, 

by  Charles  G.  Yale — 

**Bullotiu   No.   15.      Map   of   Oil   City   Fields,   Fresno  County,   by   John   H. 

Means.     1899   

**Bulletin  No.  IG.     The  Genesis  of  Petroleum  and  Asphaltum  in  California, 

by  A.  S.  Cooper.     1899,  39  pp..  29  illustrations 

**Bulletin  No.  17.     Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties  for  1899, 

by  Charles  G.  Yale.     Tabulated  sheet 

**Bulletin   No.   18.     Mother  Lode   Region   of  California,  by   W.   H,   Storms. 

1900,   154  pp.,  49   illustrations 

**Bulletin  No.  19.     Oil  and  Gas  Yielding  Formations  of  California,  by  W.  L. 

Watts.     1900,  23G  pp.,  GO  illustrations,  8  maps 

**Bulletiu  No.  20.     Synopsis  of  General  Report  of  State  Mining  Bureau,  by 

W.  L.  Watts.     1901,  21   pp.     This  bulletin  contains  a  brief  statement 

of  the  progress  of  the  mineral  industry  in  California  for  the  four  years 

euding  December,   1899 

**Bulletin  .N'o.  21.     Mineral  Production  of  California  by  Counties,  by  Charles 

G.  Yale.     1900.     Tabulated  sheet 

**Bulletin  No.  22.     Mineral  Production  of  California  for  Fourteen  Years,  by 

Charles  G.  Yale.     1900.     Tabulated  sheet 

Bulletin   No.  23.     The  Copper  Resources  of  California,  by  P.   C.   DuBois, 

F.  M.  Anderson,  J.   H.  Tibbits  und  G.  A.  TVeedy.     1902,  282  pp.,  G9 

illustrations,  and  9  maps .50 

**Bul]etin  No,  24.    The  Saline  Deposits  of  California,  by  G.  E.  Bailey.     1902, 

21G  PI).,  99  illustrations,  5  maps 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  25.     Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties,  for  1901, 

by  Charles  G.  Yale.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin   No.   2(!.      Mineral   Production   of  California    for  the   past   Fifteen 

Years,  by  Charles  G.  Yale.     1902.     Tabulated  sheet 

**Bulletin    No.    27.     The    Quicksilver    Resources   of    California,    by    William 

Forstner.     1903,  273  pp.,  144  illustrations,  8  maps 

♦♦Bulletin   No.  28.     Mineral   Production  of  California,   for  1902,  by   Charles 

(J.  Yale.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin   No.  29.     Mineral   Production  of  California  for  Sixteen  Years,  by 

Charles  G.  Yale.     1903.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin   No.  30.     Bibliography   Relating  to  the  Geology,  Pahpntology,  and 

Mineral  Resources  of  California,  by  A.  W.  Vogdes.     1903.  290  pp". 

♦♦Bulletin    No.   31.      Chemical    Analyses   of  California   Petroleum,    by    H.    X. 

Cooper.     IJKM.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦*Bulleiin   No.  32.     Production  and   Use  of  Petroleum  in  California,  by  Paul 

W.  Prutzman.     1904,  230  pp.,  IIG  illustrations,  14  maps 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  33.     Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties,  for  1903, 

by   Charles   G.    Yale.     Tabulated   sheet 

♦♦Bulletin   No.  34.     Mineral   Production  of  California   for  Seventeen  Years, 

by  Charles  G.  Yale.    1904.    Tabulated  sheet 


STATISTICS    OP   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  179 

BULLETINS— Continued. 

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Price 

♦♦Bulletin   No.  3.".     Mines  and   Minerals  of  California,  by  Charles  G.  Yale. 

1004,  o3  pp.,  20  county  map-s.     Kolicf  map  of  California 

♦'Bulletin   No.  3(5.     Gold  Dredging  in  California,  by  J.  E.  Doolittle.     1905, 

120  pp..  GCt  illustrations,  3  maps 

Bulletin    No.  37.     Gems,   Jewelers'   Materials,   and   Ornamental   Stones   of 

California,  by  George  F.  Kuntz.     IIX).").  IGS  pp..  51  illustrations .$0.2.j 

♦♦Bulletin    No.   3S.      Structural   and    Industrial    Materials   of   California,   by 

Wm.  Forstner.  T.  C.   Hopkins,  C.  Naramore  and  L.  H.  Eddy.     1900, 

412  pp.,  150  illustrations,  1  map 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  39.     Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties,  for  1904, 

by  Oiarles  G.  Yale.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin    No.   40.      Mineral   Production   of   California   for   Eighteen   Years, 

by  Charles  G.  Yale.     1905.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  41.     Mines  and  Minerals  of  California,  for  1904,  by  Charles 

G.  Yale.     1905.  54  pp..  20  county  maps 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  42.     Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties,  1905.  by 

Charles  G.  Yale.    Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin    No.   43.      Mineral    Production   of  California   for   Nineteen   Years, 

by  Charles  G.  Yale.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin   No.  44.     California  Mines  and  Minerals  for  1905,  by  Charles  G. 

Yale.     1907,  31  pp.,  20  county  maps 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  45.     Auriferous  Black  Sands  of  California,  by  J.  A.  Edman. 

1907.     10  pp 

Bulletin   No.  4G.      General   Index   of  Publications  of  the   California    State 

Mining  Bureau,  by  Charles  G.  Yale.     1907.  .54  pp .30 

♦♦Bulletin    No,   47.      Mineral    Production   of   California,    by    Counties,   1906, 

by  Charles  G.  Yale.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin    No.   48.      Mineral    Production    of   California    for   Twenty    Years. 

1906,  by  Charles  G.  Yale 

♦*Bulletin  No.  49.     Mines  and  Minerals  of  California  for  1906,  by  Charles 

G.  Yale.     34  pp 

Bulletin  No.  50.     The  Copper  Resources  of  California,  1908.  by  A.  Haus- 

mann,  J.  Kruttschnitt.  Jr.,  W.  E.  Thorne  and  J.  A.  Edman,  366  pp., 

74  illustrations.      (Revised  edition.) 1.00 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  51.     Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties,  1907,  by 

D.   H.  Walker.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  52.     Mineral  Production  of  California  for  Twenty-one  Years, 

1907,  by  D.  H.  Walker.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  .53.     Mineral  Production  of  California  for  1907,  with  County 

Maps,  by  D.  H.  Walker,  62  pp , 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  54.     Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties,  by  D.  H. 

Walker,  1908.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  55.     Mineral  Production  of  California  for  TNventy-two  Years, 

by  D.  H.  Walker,  1908.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin   No.    56.      Mineral   Production   for   1908,   with   County   Maps   and 

Mining  Laws  of  California,  by  D.  IT.  Walker.     78  pp 

♦♦Bulletin    No.   57.     Gold   Dredging   in   California,   by   W.   B.   Winston   and 

Chas.  Janin.     1910,  312  pp.,  239  illustrations  and  10  maps 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  58.     Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties,  by  D.  H. 

Walker,  1909.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  59.    Mineral  Production  of  California  for  Twenty-three  Years, 

by  D.  H.  Walker,  1909.     Tabulated  sheet 

**Bulletin  No.  GO.     Mineral  Production  for  1909,  County  Maps  and  Mining 

Laws  of  California,  by  D.  H.  Walker.     94  pp 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  61.     Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties  for  1910, 

by  D.  H.  Walker.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  62.     Mineral  Production  of  California  for  Twenty-four  Years, 

by  D.  H.  Walker,  1910.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  63.     Petroleum  in  Southern  California,  by  P.  W.  Prutzman. 

1912,  430  pp.,  41  illustrations,  6  maps 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  64.     Mineral  Production  for  1911,  by  E.  S.  Boalich.     49  pp.__     

♦♦Bulletin  No.  65,     Mineral  Production  for  1912,  by  E.  S.  Boalich.      64  pp.__     _„, 


]80  MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OV    CALIFORNIA. 

BULLETINS— Continued. 

Asterisks  (**)  indicate  the  publication  is  out  of  print. 

Price 

**Bulletin  No.  66.     Mining  Laws  of  the  United  States  and  California.     1914, 

S9  pp. 

**Bullctin    No.    67.      Minerals   of   California,    by    Arthur    S.    Eakle.      1914, 

220    pp.    

**Bulletin   No.   68.      Mineral   Production   for  1913,   Avith   County   Maps   and 

Mining  Laws,  by  E.  S.  Boalich.     160  pp 

**Bulletin   No.  69.     Petroleum   Industry  of   California,   with  Folio  of  Maps 

(18  by  22),  by  R.  P.  McLaughlin  and  C.  A.  Waring.     1914,  519  pp., 

13  illustrations,  S3  figs.     [18  plates  in  accompanying  folio.] 

**Bulletin   No.   70.     Mineral   Production   for   1914,   with   County   Maps   and 

Mining  Laws.     184  pp 

♦♦Bulletin   No.   71.     Mineral   Production    for   19ir>,   with   County   Maps   and 

Mining  Laws,  by  Walter  W.  Bradley.     193  pp.,  4  illustrations 

Bulletin  No.  72.     The  Geologic  Fonnations  of  California,  by  James  Perrin 

Smith.     V.nC.   47  pp $^-25 

Koc-onnais.sancp  Geologic  Map   (of  which.  Bulletin  72  is  explanatory), 

in  23  colors.     Scale:  1   ineli  (Hiuals  12  inchos.     .Mounted 2.r)0 

*-'Bulletiu   No.  73.     First  Annual   Report  of  the  State  Oil  and  Gas  Super- 
visor of  California,  for  the  fiscal  year  1915-16,  by  R.  P.  McLaughlin. 

278  pp.,  26  illustrations 

Bulletin  No.  74.     Mineral  Production  of  California  in  1916,  with  County 

Maps,  by  Walter  W.  Bradley.     179  pp.,  12  illustrations Free 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  75.     United  States  and  California  Mining  Laws,  1917.    115  pp., 

paper 

Bulletin  No.  76.     Manganese  and  Chromium  in  California,  by  Walter  W, 

Bradley,   Emile   Huguenin,    C.   A.   Logan,    W.   B.   Tucker   and    C.    A. 

Waring,  1918.     248  pp.,  51  illustrations,  5  maps,  paper .50 

Bulletin    No,   77.     Catalogue   of   Publications   of   California    State   Mining 

Bureau,  1880-1917,  by  E.  S.  Boalich.     44  pp.,  paper Free 

Bulletin   No.   78.     Quicksilver  Resources  of  California,  with  a  Section  on 

Metallurgy  and  Ore-Dressing,  by  Walter  W.  Bradley,  1918.     3S9  pp., 

77  photographs  and  42  plates   (colored  and  line  cuts),  cloth 1.50 

Bulletin   No.   79.     Magnesite   in   California.      (Unpublished.) 

Bulletin    No.    SO.     Tungsten,    Molybdenum    and    Vanadium    in    California. 

(In   preparation.)    

Bulletin  No.  81.     Foothill  Copper  Belt  of  California.     (In  preparation.) 

**Bulletin  No.  82.     Second  Annual  Report  of  the  State  Oil  and  Gas  Super- 
visor, for  the  fiscal  year  1916-1917,  by  R.  P.  McLaughlin,  1918.    412  pp., 

31  illustrations,   cloth 

Bulletin    No.   83.     California   Mineral   Production    for   1917,  with   County 

Maps,  by  Walter  W.  Bradley.     179  pp.,  paper Free 

**BulIetin   No.  84.     Third  Annual  Report  of  the  State  Oil  and  Gas  Saper- 

visor,    for    the    fiscal    year    1917-1918,    by    R.    P.    McLaughlin,    1918. 

617  pp.,  28  illustrations,  cloth 

Bulletin  No.  85.     Platinum  and  Allied  Metals  in  California,  by  C.  A.  Logan, 

1919.     10  photographs,  4  plates,  120  pp.,  paper .50 

Bulletin    No.   86.     California   Mineral   Production   for   1918,   with    County 

Maps,  by  Walter  W.  Bradley,  1919.     212  pp.,  paper Free 

'^♦Bulletin  No.  87.     Commercial  Minerals  of  California,  with  notes  on  their 

uses,    distribution,    properties,    ores,    field    tests,    and    preparation    for 

market,  by  W.  O.  Castello.  1920.     124  pp.,  paper 

Bulletin    No.   88.     California   Mineral   Production    for   1919,   with   County 

Maps,  by  Walter  W.  Bradley,  1920.     204  pp..  paper Free 

Bulletin  No.  89.     Petroleum  Resources  of  California,  with  Special  Reference 

to  Unproved  Areas,   by   Lawrence  Vander  Leek,   1921.     12  figures,  6 

photographs,  6  maps  in  pocket,  186  pp.,  cloth 1.25 

Bulletin   No.   90.     California   Mineral    Production   for   1920,    with   County 

Maps,  by  Walter  W.  Bradley,  1921.     218  pp.,  paper Free 

Bulletin  No.  91.     Minerals  of  California,  by  Arthur  S.  Eakle,  1923,  328  pp., 

cloth   1.00 

Bulletin   No.  93.     California   Mineral  Production  for  1922.   l>v    Walter  W. 

Pradley,  1923 ^_^^^_.,,, .._^__^__.,___ ^ ^     Free 


STATISTICS    OF    ANNTAL    PRODl'CTIOX.  181 

PRELIMINARY    REPORTS. 

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Price 
**Prcliminarj-  Report  No.  1.     Notes  on  Damage  bj'  Water  in  California  Oil 

Fields,  December.  1913.     By  R.  P.  McLaughlin.     4  pp 

♦♦Preliminary  Report  No.  2.     Notes  on  Damage  by  Water  in  California  Oil 

Fields.'  March,  1914.     By  R.  P.  McLaughlin.     4  pp 

♦♦Preliminary   Report  No.  3.     Manganese   and   Chromium,   1917.     By  E.   S. 

Boalich.     32  pp 

Preliminary   Report   No.   4.     Tungsten,   Molybdenum   and   Vanadium.     By 

E.  S.  Boalich  and  W.  O.  Castello,  191S.     34  pp.     Paper Free 

Preliminary  Report  No.  ">.     Antimony,  Graphite,  Nickel,  Potash,  Strontium 

and  Tin.    By  E.  S.  Boalich  and  W.  O.  Castello,  191S.    44  pp.     Paper__     Free 
Preliminary  Report  No.  G.     A  Review  of  Mining  in  California  During  1919. 

Fletcher  Hamilton,  1920.     43  pp.  Paper Free 

♦♦Preliminary  Report  No.  7.  The  Clay  Industry  in  California.  By  E.  S. 
Boalich,  W.  O.  Castello,  E.  Huguenin,  C.  A.  Logan,  and  W.  B.  Tucker, 

1920.  102  pp.     24  illustrations.     Paper 

**Preliminary   Report   No.   8.      A  Review    of   Mining  in   California   During 

1921,  with  Notes  on  the  Outlook  for  1922.     Fletcher  Hamilton,  1922. 

68  pp.     Paper 

MISCELLANEOUS    PUBLICATIONS. 

Asterisks  (**)   indicate  tlie  publication  is  out  of  print. 

♦♦First  Annual  Catalogue  of  the  State  Museum  of  California,  being  the  collec- 
tion made  by  the  State  Mining  Bureau  during  the  year  ending  April  16, 
ISSl.     350  pp 

♦♦Catalogue  of  books,  maps,  lithographs,  photographs,  etc.,  in  the  libi-ary  of 

the  State  Mining  Bureau  at  San  Francisco,  May  15,  1S84.    19  pp 

♦♦Catalogue  of  the  State  Museum  of  California,  Volume  II,  being  the  collec- 
tion made  by  the  State  Mining  Bureau  from  April  16,  1881,  to  May  5, 
1SS4.     220  pp 

♦♦Catalogue  of  the  State  Museum  of  California,  Volume  III,  being  the  collec- 
tion made  by  the  State  Mining  Bureau  from  May  15,  1884,  to  March  31, 
1SS7.      195   pp 

♦♦Catalogue  of  the  State  Museum  of  California,  Volume  IV.  being  the  collec- 
tion made  by  the  State  Mining  Bureau  from  March  30,  1887,  to  August 
20,   1890.     261  pp 

♦♦Catalogue  of  the  Library  of  the  California  State  Mining  Bureau,  September 

1.  1892.     149  pp 

♦♦Catalogue  of  West  North  American  and  Many  Foreign  Shells  with  Their 
Geographical  Ranges,  by  J.  G.  Cooper.  Printed  for  the  State  Mining 
Bureau.  April,  1894. __-- 

**Roport  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  for  the  four  years  ending  September,  1900. 

1-5   pp.      Paper 

Bulletin.      Reconnaissance   of    the   Colorado   Desert   Mining   District.     By 

Stephen  Bowers,  1901.     19  pp.     2  illustrations.     Paper Free 

Commercial  Mineral  Notes.     A  monthly  mimeographed  sheet.     April,  May, 

June,  July,  August,  September,  1923 Free 


182 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    C.VLIFORNIA, 


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MAPS. 

Registers  of   Mines  With    Maps. 

Asterisks  (**)  indicate  out  of  print. 

Price 

of  Mines,  with  Map,  Amador   County   $0.25 

of  Mines,  with  Map,  Butte  County  .25 

of  Mines,  with  Map,  Calaveras  County 

of  Mines,  with  Map,  El    Dorado    County 

of  Mines,  with  Map,  Inyo  County  

of  Mines,  with  Map,  Kern    County    

of  Mines,  with  Map,  Lake  County 

of  Mines,  with  Map,  Mariposa  County 

of  Mines,  with  Map,  Nevada  County 

of  Mines,  with  Map,  Placer   County    

of  Mines,  with  Map,  Plumas    County    

of  Mines,  with  Map,  San  Bernardino  County 

of  Mines,  with  Map,  San  Diego  County 

of  Mines,  with  Map,  Santa  Barbara  County .25 

of  Mines,  with  Map,  Shasta  County   

of  Mines,  with  Map,  Sierra    County    

of  Mines,  with  Map,  Siskiyou  County 

of  Mines,  with  Map,  Trinity    County    

of  Mines,  with  Map,  Tuolumne   County   

of  Mines,  with  Map.  Yuba    County    .25 

of  Oil  Wells,  with  Map,  Los  Angeles  City 


OTHER    MAPS. 

Asterisks  (**)  indicate  the  publication  is  out  of  print. 

Map  of  California,  Showing  Mineral  Deposits  (50x60  in.)  — 

**Mounted 

**Unmounted    

Map  of  Forest  Reserves  in  California — 

Mounted   .50 

**Unmounted    

**Mineral  and  Relief  Map  of  California 

**Map  of  El  Dorado  County,   Showing  Boundaries,  National  Forests 

**Map  of  Madera  County,  Showing  Boundaries,  National  Forests 

**Map  of  Placer  County,   Showing  Boundaries,   National   Forests 

**Map  of  Shasta  County,   Showing  Boundaries,   National  Forests 

**Map  of  Sierra  County,  Showing  Boundaries,  National  Forests 

**Map  of  Siskiyou  County,  Showing  Boundaries,  National  Forests 

**Map  of  Tuolumne  County,   Showing  Boundaries,  National  Forests 

**Map  of  Mother   Lode    Region 

**Map  of  Desert  Region  of  Southern   California 

Map  of  Minaret   District,   Madera   County .20 

Map  of  Copper  Deposits  in  California .05 

**Map  of  Calaveras  County  

Map  of  Plumas  County .25 

**Map  of  Trinity   County   

Map  of  Tuolumne  County    .25 

Geological  Map  of  Inyo  County.     Scale  1  inch  equals  4  miles .60 

Map  of  California  accompanying  Bulletin  No.  S9,  showing  generalized  classi- 
fication  of  land   with   regard   to  oil   possibilities.     Map  only,   without 

Bulletin    .25 

Geological  Map  of  California,  1910.  Scale  1  inch  equals  12  miles.  As 
accurate  and  up-to-date  as  available  data  will  permit  as  regards  topog- 
raphy and  geography.  Shows  railroads,  highways,  post  offices  and  other 
towns.  First  geological  map  that  has  been  available  since  1892,  and 
shows  geology  of  entire  state  as  no  other  map  does.     Geological  details 

lithographed  in  23  colors.     Mounted , 2,50 


STATISTICS    OF    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION.  183 

OIL    FIELD    MAPS. 

Those  maps  arc  revised  from   time   to   time  as  development  work   advances  and 
ownerships  change. 

Price 

Map  No.     1 — Sargent,  Santa  Clara  County $0.50 

Map  No.     2 — Santa  Maria,  inchuling  Cat  Can.von  and  Los  Alamos .75 

Map  No.     3 — Santa  Maria.  Including  Casmalia  and  Lompoc .75 

Map  No.     4— Whittier-Fullerton,    including;    Olinda.    Brea    Canyon,    Puente 

Hills.  East  Coyote  and  Richfield .75 

Map  No.     5 — Whittier-Fullerton,     including     Whittier,     West     Coyote,     and 

Montehello .75 

Map  No.     0 — Salt  Lake,  Los  Angeles  County .7.5 

Map  No.     7 — Sunset  and  San  Emido  and  Kern  County .75 

Map  No.     S — South  Midway  and  Buena  Vista  Hills,  Kern  County .75 

Map  No.     9 — North  Midway  and  McKittrick,  Kern  County .75 

Map  No.  10 — Belridge  and  McKittrick,  Kern  County .75 

-Map  No.  11 — Lost  Hills  and  North  Belridge,  Kern  County .75 

Map  No.  12— Devils   Den,  Kern  County .75 

Map  No.  1.3 — Kern  River,  Kern  County .75 

Map  No.  14 — Coalinga,   Fresno  County .75 

Map  No.  15— Elk  Hills.  Kern  County .75 

Map  No.  IG— Ventura-Ojai,  Ventura  County _ .75 

Map  No.  17 — Santa  Paula-Sespe  Oil  Fields,  Ventura  County .75 

Map  No.  IS— Piru-Simi-Newhall   Oil   Fields .7-5 

Map  No.  10 — Arrovo  Grande,  San  Luis  Obispo  County .75 

Map  No.  20— Long  Beach   Oil   Field 1.00 

Map  No.  21 — Portion  of  District  4,  Showing.  Boundaries  of  Oil  Fields,  Kern 

and  Kings  counties ' .75 

Map  No.  22 — Portion    of    District    3,    Showing    Oil    Fields,    Santa    Barbara 

County   .75 

Map  No.  23 — Portion    of    District    2,    Showing    Boundaries    of    Oil    Fields, 

Ventura  County .75 

Map  No.  24 — Portion  of  District  1,   Showing  Boundaries  of  Oil  Fields,  Los 

Angeles  and  Orange  counties .75 

Map  No.  2.">— Kern   River  Oil   Field .75 

^L'lp  No.  2C) — Huntington  Beach  Oil  Field .75 

Map  No.  27— Santa   Fe  Springs  Oil   Field .75 

Map  No.  2S — Torrance,  Los  Angeles  County .75 


DETERMINATION    OF    MINERAL    SAMPLES. 

Samples  (limited  to  three  at  one  time)  of  any  mineral  found  in  the  state  may  be 
sent  to  the  Bureau  for  identification,  and  the  same  will  be  classified  free  of  charge. 
No  samples  will  be  determined  if  received  from  points  outside  the  state.  It  must  be 
understood  that  no  assays,  or  quantitative  determinations  will  be  made.  Samples 
should  be  in  lump  form  if  possible,  and  marked  plainly  with  name  of  sender  on. 
outside  of  package,  etc.  No  samples  will  be  received  unless  delivery  charges  are 
prepaid.  A  letter  should  accompany  sample,  giving  locality  where  mineral  was  found 
and  the  nature  of  the  information  desired. 


INDEX. 


Page 

Alameila  County 150 

Alpine  County 150 

Aluminum 42 

Amador  County 150 

Amblysonite 123 

American  Trona  Corporation,  cited —  144 

Antimony    43 

Total  production 43 

Appendix 176 

Architectural  terra  cotta 105 

Arrowliead   Hot   Springs,   radioactiv- 
ity at 127 

Arsenic    43 

Art  pottery 105 

Asbestos   100 

Classes  and  characteristics 101 

Total  production 102 

Asphalt 68 

Bailey.  G.   E.,  cited 127 

Barytes 102 

Total  production 103 

Ballast 96 

Bauxite 42 

Benitoite 114 

Beryl 114 

Bismuth    44 

Bisque  ware 105 

Bituminous  roclt 68 

Total  production 69 

Blue  Diamond  Material  Company 94 

Borates 140 

Production,  1864-1922 141 

Bowles,    O.,    cited 89,  124 

Brick 69 

Production  of  various  kinds 70 

Total    production,   1893-1922 72 

Building   stone.      (.See  Granite,   Mar- 
ble,  Sandstone,  etc.) 

Bulletins,  list  of 176 

Burchard,   E.   R,  cited 111 

Butte  County 151 

Cadmium    44 

Calaveras    County    151 

Calcium   Chloride 142 

California,  area  of 149 

Map  of,  sliowins  approximate  loca- 
tion of  oil   fields 33 

Californite 114 

Calistoga  'geysers' 127 

Cement    72 

Chart  re  production  and  prices 74 

Total    production    74 

Caen  stone 97 

Chalcedony 113 

Chambers,  A.  A.,  cited 127 

Chromite 75 

Concentration    of    75 

Economic  condition  of 75 

Imports   of 76 

Occurrence  of 75 

Prices  of 75 

Total  production 76 

Chrysoprase 114 

Cinders   97 


Page 

Clav — pottery    103 

Production,  1887-1922 106 

Products 105 

Coal 16 

Total  production  of 17 

Cobalt    45 

Colemanite 141 

Collom,    R.    E.,    cited 25,  27,  39 

Colusa  County 152 

Concentration  of  chromite 75 

Of  molybdenum 55 

Tungsten 65 

Concrete  bridge  at  Polsom 73 

Contra   Costa   County 152 

Copper 45 

Flotation  concentration  of 45 

Production,    1887-1922    46 

Cost  data  on  magnesite S3 

On  power  in  the  oil  fields 23 

On  quicksilver 60 

Counties,  mineral  production  of 149 

Court  House  at  Ventura 104 

Crushed  rock 94,  96 

Average  prices  for  1922 91 

Cryolite 42 

Curbing 78 

Del    Norte   County 153 

Diamonds   113 

Diatomaceous  earth 120 

Dolomite 106 

Total  production 107 

Dredge  production   of  platinum 56 

Dredging,   gold,  decline  of 48 

El  Dorado  County 153 

Economic  situation  of  quicksilver 60 

Electric  smelting  of  ferro  alloys 51 

Empire  Mine,  Grass  Valley 47 

Faience   tile 105 

Feldspar 107 

Grades  of 108 

Total  production HO 

Ferberite 64 

Ferro-chrome  by  electric  furnace 76 

Ferro-manganese    52 

By  electric  furnace 53 

Filter  sand 95 

Fire   clay    105 

Fluorspar   HI 

Foundry   core   sand 93 

Fresno   County    154 

Fuels 16 

Fuller's   earth   HI 

Total  production 116 

Gardner,   E.   D.,   cited 121 

Gas   (See  Natural  Gas). 

Gasoline   from  natural   gas 24 

Gems 113 

Industrial  uses  of 115 

Total  production 114 

Geysers  at  Calistoga 127 

California,   radioactivity  at 127 

Glass  sand 131 


186 


INDEX. 


Page 

Glenn  County 154 

Gold 47 

Outlook   for   1923 47 

Production  by  counties,  1922 48 

Total  production 50 

Gore,  P.  D.,  cited 130 

Granite   77 

Production,  1887-1922 79 

Graphite 117 

Gravel 94 

Greenstone    granules 97 

Grinding  mill  pebbles 93 

Gypsum 118 

Total  production 120 

High-speed  steels 65 

Hill,   J.    M.,   cited 47,57,62 

Hinsdale,   Guy,   cited 127 

Hiibnerite 64 

Humboldt  County 154 

Hydrargillite   42 

Hydrocarbons    16 

Iceland  spar 113,  116 

Imperial  County 155 

Industrial    materials    99 

Infusorial   earth   120 

Total  production 122 

Inyo    County    155 

Iridium    50,  56,  58 

Iron   ore    50 

Electric  smelting  of 51 

Total  production 51 

Jewelers'  materials   (See  Gems). 

Kern  County 156 

Kings   County    157 

Kunzite 114 

Ladoo,   R.    B.,   cited 133,  137 

Lake   County 157 

Lassen  County 157 

Lassen   Peak   170 

Lawyer,  A.  M.,  cited 63 

Lead    51 

Production,    1887-1922    52 

Lepidolite 123 

Lignite 16 

Lime 79 

Production,    1894-1922 80 

Limestone     122 

Production,    1894-1922 123 

Lithia    123 

Lithopone     102 

Los   Angeles   County 158 

Los  Angeles  Pressed  Brick  Company  71 

Macadam    96 

Madera    County    158 

Magnesite 80 

Duty   on    83 

Imports  of 83 

Occurrence  of 80 

Producing   districts    84 

Production    by    counties 85 

Production   1887-1922    85 

Refractories  plants 84 

Uses  of 80 

Values  of 85 


Page 

Magnesium  salts 142 

Manganese 52 

Imports  of,  from  Brazil 53 

Prices  of 53 

Total  production 54 

Marani,   V.   C,   cited 118 

Marble 85 

Production,  1887-1922 86 

Marin  County   159 

Mariposa    County   159 

Masser,   H.   L.,   cited 18 

Mendocino   County 160 

Merced   County   160 

Metals 41 

Mica 124 

Middleton,  Jefferson,  cited 112 

Mineral  industry,  review  of 11 

Current  prices 11 

Output   by   counties 14 

Output,    comparative    value,    1921— 

1922 13 

Paint   _._^ 126 

Water    126 

Production,    1SS7-1922    128 

Minerals,     total     production     of     by 

years 15 

Variety  of,   produced  in  California  12 

Miscellaneous  stone 90 

Chart,    average    prices    in    U.     S., 

1922 91 

Production,  1893-1922 98 

Modoc  County 160 

Molybdenum     54 

Concentration    of    55 

Mono  County 161 

Monterey  County 161 

Monterey    Bay   Salt   Company,    Moss 

Landing    146 

Monumental   stone 77 

Molding  sand 94 

Napa    County    162 

Natural  gas 17 

Gasoline  from 24 

Production.    1888-1922 23 

Production  per  day,  1922 18 

Summary  of  fields 18 

Nevada  County 162 

Nickel    55 

Nitrates    143 

Oil   (See  Petroleum). 

Fields,   chart  of  approximate  loca- 
tion of 33 

Lands,  proved 39 

Onyx    87 

Optical   fluorite . 113,116 

Orange  County 163 

Osmium 55 

Osmiridium    56 

Palladium 55,  56,  58 

Parmelee,    Maurice,    cited 144 

Paving  blocks 92 

Peat 16 

Pebbles  for  grinding  mills 93 

Petroleum 24 

Average    price    by    counties,    1915- 

1922 28 


INDEX, 


187 


Petroleum — Continued.  Page 

Dividends  from 37 

Features    of,    1922 25 

Financial   tables 36 

Map     of     California,     approximate 

location   of  oil   fields 33 

Operating  costs  by  fields 38 

Outlook   for   1923 26 

Pi-icos  by  fields 27,  28 

Production,  1875-1922 29 

Production  and  value  by  counties.  27 

Production    by    fields 30 

Production     of     light     and     heavy 

gravities 31 

Production    statistics,    1922 34,  35 

I'roved  oil  land 39 

Statistics  of  well  operations 30 

Storage    of 31 

Yield  per  day  of  Wells 30 

Pliosphates 128 

Placer  County 163 

Platinum     55 

From    blister   copper 56 

Prices  of 58 

Production  of,   1887-1922 59 

Plumas  County 164 

Porcelain    105 

Potash 143 

Total  production  of 145 

Pottery    clays    103 

Proved    oil    land 39 

Publications  of  State  Mining  Bureau  176 

Public  Library,   Stockton 86 

Pumice    129 

Pyrite    129 

Total  production 130 

Quartz 130 

Crystals    113 

Quicksilver 59 

Duty  on 60 

Foreign  competition  in 60 

Production,  1850-1922 61 

Prices    60 

Total  production 61 

Uses  of , 60 

Radioactivity  of  hot  springs 127 

Red  shale 97 

Rhodonite 114 

Riprap 96 

Riverside   County 164 

Rubble 96 

Rubies 114 

Sacramento  County 165 

Salines    140 

Salt    146 

Production,  1887-1922 147 

Cake  deposit,   Salton  Basin 14  8 

San  Benito  County 165 

San   Bernardino   County 165 

San   Diego   County 166 

San  Francisco  County 167 

San   Joaquin   County 167 

San   Luis   Obispo   County 167 

San  Mateo  County 168 

Sand,    glass   131 

Sand    and    gravel 91,  94 

Sandstone 87 

Production,  1887-1922 88 


Faqb 

Sanitary  ware 105 

Santa  Barbara  County 168 

Santa   Clara   County 169 

Santa   Cruz  County 169 

Sapphires    113 

Schaller,  W.  T.,  cited 115 

Scherer,  Robt,  cited 82 

Scheelite 64 

Serpentine    88 

Sewer  pipe 105 

Shale  oil 13() 

Shasta   County    169 

Sierra  County 170 

Silica    130 

Total    production    132 

Sillimanite    132 

Silver 62 

Production    by    counties 62 

Production,  1880-1922 63 

Siskiyou  County 170 

Slate    89 

Production,    1889-1922    90 

Soapstone 132 

Total  production 138 

Uses 133 

Soda 147 

Total  production  of 148 

Solano    County    171 

Sonoma    County    171 

Spelter.      (See   Zinc.) 

Standard   Oil   Company,  cited 31 

Stanislaus    County   172 

State  Mineralogist's  Report,  cited 31 

List    of    176 

Oil  and  Gas  Supervisor,  cited 25,  27,  39 

Stone,   miscellaneous    90 

Production  by  counties 96 

Production   by  years 98 

Stoneware    105 

Strontium 138 

Structural   materials    67 

Increased  production  of 67,  68 

Sulphur 139 

Summerland    oil    field 28 

Sutter  County 172 

Talc 132 

Uses 133 

Teesdale,  C.  H.,   cited 111 

Tehama  County 172 

Terra  cotta 105 

Tile    69,  105 

Thomsonite    113 

Tin 63 

Topaz    117 

Tourmaline     113,  114,  117 

Trans.    Amer.    Inst.   Min.   Eng.,   cited  44 

Trap    rock    92 

Travertine    87 

Trinity  County 173 

Tube    mill    pebbles 93 

Tulare    County    173 

Tungsten 64 

Concentration    of   65 

Total  production 65 

Tuolumne  County 174 

United  States  Bureau  of  Mines,  cited  121 

Commerce  Reports,   cited 64 

Geological  Survey,  cited 

17,  29,  47,  48,  58,  62,  64,  74,  85,  115,  119 


188 


INDEX. 


Page 

Vanadium g5 

Ventura   County ~_  174 

A'olc-anic  ash   129 

Watts,  A.  S.,  cited 108 

AVitlierite 102 

Wolframite g4 


Fagh 


Yolo    County 174 

Yuba  County "__     175 


Zinc 


66 


Total    production    66 


2S547     12-23     3M 


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PHYSSCI  LIBRARY 

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